New car discounts have steadily increased since the beginning of the year as the motor trade struggles to shift stock. Citroën retailers have offered the biggest discounts on new models, with nearly 12% savings since the start of the year, according to exclusive What Car? research. Premium brands, including BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo among those offering new car buyers the biggest price … [Read more...]
New car sales’ steep fall in Wales
New car sales have fallen the steepest in Wales during April, says the SMMT. They dipped over 10% compared to the same month last year to 5,379 new models registered and in Britain as a whole sales slipped just under 4% with 160,606 registrations, and Wales's best sellers in April were: Fiesta, Focus, Kuga, Qashqai, Ecosport, Polo, A-Class, Duster, GrandlandX, Golf and Tiguan. Following … [Read more...]
UK new car sales soar as Geneva show opens
As the Geneva motor show opens, figures show UK car sales beat expectations and rose 1.4 percent February, boosted by rising sales of petrol and alternative-fuelled cars, according to the SMMT. Sales rose to 81,969 units from 80,805 in February 2018. In Wales, sales went up 6.44% last month and eased the year so far to a 1.98% increase with 2,396 registrations in what is a short month … [Read more...]
Welsh sales steady as diesel cars ground and AFVs take off
Sales of hybrid and electric cars soared over 26% last month and slowed the fall in registrations of recent months, according to figures from the car makers. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders say registrations were only 1.6% down in January at 161,013 new cars, with private buyers leading the way as business and fleet models continued to fall. In Wales, registrations were almost … [Read more...]
Newslines 19 November
Rich Welsh drivers prefer to buy a Lamborghini, says a specialist finance company. JBR Capital revealed the Italian supercars account for over 28% of their loans, the highest for the marque in the UK, in Wales. There is a £150M plan to revive a race and test track near Rassau, Ebbw Vale, according to media reports. It follows the failure of the £425M Circuit of Wales in 2017 on the same … [Read more...]
Used car sales steady after new cars collapse
Britain’s used car market remained near recent record highs in the third quarter of 2018, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Despite a sales dip of -2.1% compared with the same period in 2017, there were 2,057,457 used transactions in Q3, with August the quarter’s best-selling month and the Ford Fiesta was most popular with 93,260 sold. Buyers continued flocking to … [Read more...]
New car sales plunge 20% in September
The UK new car market fell by -20.5% in September, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. It reported 338,834 vehicles were registered in the month when the new registrations plate came into force, down around 87,000 on the previous year as new testing requirements continue to affect supply and distort the market. The impact was felt across the board, with … [Read more...]
Car makers poorly prepared for new law
The European car market saw spectacular growth in August, recording the highest August result in the last twenty years. But this strong growth was artificial as registrations were boosted by stock clearances ahead of the introduction of tougher new emissions tests under the World Light Car Test Programme, or WLTP, on the 1 September. This is evidenced by unusual results in typically slow … [Read more...]
“Diesel in terminal decline” – July car sales analysis
Hybrid and electric car sales have broken records while diesel continues terminal decline, according to the latest car sales figures from the industry in Britain. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders July registrations showed a very modest 1.2% rise in overall sales, helped by strong demand for convertibles and sales incentives by manufacturers and dealers after months of … [Read more...]
Welsh car sales rise against the tide
Wales bucked the trend as summer burned new car dealers with sales down 3.5% in June, according to figures from the SMMT. The news came on the day that JLR said it would have to reconsider planned UK investment if there is a “bad” Brexit deal, possibly close some British factories and make thousands redundant. Six months ago, JLR announced cuts at Halewood, said it wouldn’t renew contracts … [Read more...]