New car registrations in the United Kingdom rose 9.3% year on year in July to 143,884 units – the fifth consecutive monthly gain and the best of 2012.
Registrations over the first seven months rose 3.5% to 1,201,564 units.
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All fuel types showed increased volumes in July, with alternatively-fuelled registrations up 45.9% in the month.
“New car registrations rose 9.3% in July, continuing the upward trend seen during recent months. SMMT’s full year forecast is for 1.97m cars to be registered during 2012, suggesting a slight slowing of demand in the second half of the year,” said SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt.
“International economic stability remains a concern for vehicle manufacturers and the UK market but intense competition and new, fuel efficient products are creating great opportunities for motorists.”
SMMT revised up its full year forecast for 2012 to 1.97m units compared with 1.94m in 2011.
Meanwhile, the commercial vehicle market grew 8.1% to 22,353 units in July with van registrations up 10.2% to 18,913 and trucks dipping 2.2% to 3,440.
Year to date, overall CV sales are off 4% to 165,935 with van sales down 7.8% to 138,699 and truck sales up a healthy 21.5% to 27,236.
“The commercial vehicle market received a welcome boost in July, fueled by strong van registrations,” said Everitt.
“Truck registrations showed signs of stabilising after almost two years of consistent recovery from recessionary lows.
“The van and rigid truck markets still have a way to go to hit pre-recession levels but artic volumes have grown since October 2010 to reach levels not seen since 2008.”
