UK new car registrations rose 0.9% to 153,851 units last month.
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Year to date registrations, at 2,055,739 units were down 3.2% but the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has revised its annual total up to 2.345m after a stronger than expected September result.
October diesel registrations rose 5.4% to 64,128 units.
“Environmental issues are high on everyone’s agenda, be it car makers or car buyers. SMMT’s recently published Sustainability Report clearly shows that the motor industry is taking its environmental responsibilities seriously,’ said SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan.
“October showed the highest diesel penetration this year, taking 41.7% of new car registrations this month. Fuel efficiency and increased environmental awareness are now high on customers’ priorities when considering these significant purchases.”
Light commercial vehicle sales rose 0.6% to 29,792 and year to date sales were up 0.7% to 330,566.
“October was a mixed bag for the UK’s new commercial vehicle registrations,” said Macgowan.
“The change from Euro 3 to Euro 4 emission standards and the end of the Reduced Pollution Certificate scheme dramatically distorted the heavy truck market.
“Elsewhere, medium and heavy vans saw the best October total in the past 10 years, a sign of the sustained strength of these new van markets and perhaps the approaching January 2007 deadline for new vans to meet Euro 4 emissions laws.”
