Diesel’s decline continued on new car forecourts last month. It was the 12 consecutive month of falling sales but an inflated registration spike in March 2017 to beat tougher emissions requirements and tax rates has distorted the tables for March 2018 although the underlying trend is bad for diesel. Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders today show a 37.2% drop over … [Read more...]
Sales slide indicating worse to come, warn analysts
New car sales in Wales slipped 5.5% in January. Dealers reported 5,333 new cars registered in Wales last month compared to 5,641 12 months ago, the SMMT reported. That was a slightly better performance than the UK combined figure which saw a 6.3% decline with 163,113 new cars leaving showrooms. Bad weather in Scotland seriously impacted on sales north of the border with a huge 15.1% … [Read more...]
New car sales dropped in 2017
British new car sales last year recorded their biggest drop since the 2009 recession. They slipped over 5% due to uncertainty over potential new diesel charges and weakening consumer confidence since Brexit and the SMMT expect a steeper slide this year of about 7%. Registrations ended 2017 at around 2.54 million vehicles, while demand for diesel cars fell 17% as consumers were put off by … [Read more...]
Wales new-car sales worst in UK
New car sales in Wales have collapsed further than the rest of Britain. Registrations fell by 17.5% in September compared to 12 months ago and the downturn in England was approximately half that but it also meant the running total of registrations in Wales so far this year is over 10% below nine months in 2016, also the worst in the UK. The SMMT said the fall was due to uncertainties over … [Read more...]
Wales’ new-car sales among UK worst
The brakes are still going on Britain’s new car sales. Figures from the SMMT car-makers’ body today show the fifth consecutive month for a decline but August has always been a slow month as buyers hold off for the new plate and registrations of 67-plate models will provide a better indicator of the overall market. Registrations dropped 6.4 percent to 76,433 vehicles, according to … [Read more...]
New car sales continue reversing
New car sales have gone into reverse for the fourth month in a row and were down over 9% in July with businesses taking a quarter less cars, said the SMMT. Diesel powered models fell 20% while alternatively fuelled vehicles soared nearly 65% and market leaders Ford and Vauxhall were very badly hit while PSA Group saw a steep decline as well and Volkswagen Group brands all improved. July … [Read more...]
New car sales collapse in Wales
New car registrations in Wales plunged over 30% last month after a boom in March due to new taxes and charges beginning in April, writes Robin Roberts. It was the steepest fall in the UK, with Northern Ireland just a little behind while England and Scotland did not suffer anywhere like the same downturn. The fall was expected but the percentage was higher than many … [Read more...]
New car registrations hit 12-year high
The UK new car market achieved a 12-year high in January, said the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The total was 174,564 vehicles last month – a 2.9% year-on-year uplift and the highest level since 2005. The alternative fuelled vehicle segment grew 19.9% to take a record 4.2% market share – the first time 4% has been surpassed. Across other fuel types there was a … [Read more...]
‘Grey sales’ are bringing colour to UK market
New car registrations are booming but there are doubts over who is actually making sales. The SMMT said yesterday that 2,685,724 new cars were registered last year, a 2.3% increase on the year beforehand and fifth year of growth. But the registrations in Wales, the only part of the country to see a fall, dipped 1.4% to 91,940. That could be due to the fact that few companies are … [Read more...]
PCP schemes expected to cost more
The falling value of the pound is likely to see monthly PCP new car payments rise in 2017, predicts Glass’s. The vehicle data specialist says that manufacturers importing their vehicles into the UK will need to recoup margins somewhere and that PCP payments are the least unpalatable choice. Rupert Pontin, director of valuations, explained, “The pound fell in value by about 20% against the … [Read more...]