White maintained its position as Wales and the UK’s most popular new car colour for the fourth year in a row in 2016, said the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. More than half a million new car buyers chose the colour last year – a fifth of all registrations – although figures show its popularity is starting to fade with demand falling -2.1%, the first drop since 2005. White and … [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...]
UK automotive and engine production hit records
Car, engine, van, lorry and bus making is soaring in Britain. The falling value of the pound has helped exports because our vehicles have become cheaper to buy abroad and if manufacturers buy more component parts here they will cut import costs, exchange rate charges and make more money. UK car manufacturing output reached its highest level since 1999 in November, with almost 170,000 … [Read more...]
Car makers want best deal for UK after Brexit
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders hosted a roundtable discussion chaired by David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, on the future for the UK automotive sector following Brexit. The event took place at SMMT’s headquarters in London and was also attended by John Hayes, Minster of State, Department for Transport and Nick Hurd, Minister of State, Department for … [Read more...]
Wales leads as car sales pass historic record
New cars are pouring onto UK roads at a faster rate than ever, led by Wales. SMMT figures show 184,101 new cars were registered in the UK this November, with the market increasing by a steady 2.9%. The growth has helped deliver more than 2.5 million new cars on to British roads so far this year – the first time the milestone has been reached in November. Demand for alternatively fuelled … [Read more...]
Car sales edge up in October
UK new cars business saw modest growth in October, said the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Some 180,168 cars were driven off the UK's forecourts last month as registrations grew 1.4%. In Wales last month, figures record 6,011 registrations, a drop of just over 7%. However, when dealer registrations to boost incentives are factored into this, the real figure is likely to be … [Read more...]
UK car making grows & Toyota back Britain
The British Government has been right to back Nissan in the North East, says leading automotive economist Prof Garel Rhys. The massive car plant at Sunderland employs about 6,700 people but the "multiplier" effect through the supplier chain of component makers and related businesses almost exclusively dependent on the plant mean they pay about 33,000 people. "Whatever is said about the deal … [Read more...]
Multi-million-pound Nissan Sunderland investment
Nissan will create a “super-plant” at its Sunderland centre. Confirming the next Qashqai will be built there, it unexpectedly yesterday added that the X-Trail SUV will also go into production in the North East. To do this the current installed capacity of 475,000 cars will be expanded and Nissan aims to build 600,000 cars from 2018. It is almost certain to mean more jobs will be created as … [Read more...]
Late registrations boost September to new record
UK new car sales in September, rose 1.6%, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders as 469,696 cars were registered and buyers went for the new 66-plate. The performance marks the highest September on record, while the total number of cars registered so far this year also grew to 2,150,495 units – up 2.6% compared with the same period last year. It is only the second time … [Read more...]
August new car sales surprise
The UK new car market achieved modest growth in August as registrations rose 3.3% against the same month last year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. There were 81,640 new cars registered in the month, with year-to-date performance remaining positive, up 2.8% to 1.68 million units. The fleet sector drove the growth buoyed by attractive finance deals and discounts, … [Read more...]