UK new car registrations rose 5.9% year on year in March with 394,806 registrations of 13-plate cars.

Q1 volume rose 7.4% to 605,198 units.

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‘New 13-plate March’ was the 13th consecutive month of growth in new car registrations, with volumes the highest since 2010 when the scrappage incentive scheme was running.

Private registrations were up 11.2% in Q1.

Registrations of all sales types rose in March, and across most segments – notably the mini and MPV segments.

“The better than expected Q1 outturn should support net growth in the market in 2013. SMMT will review its full year forecast later in March,” the industry lobby group said.

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“UK new car registrations out-performed expectations in March, the first month of the new 13-plate. The market increased more than 5% on March 2012 to almost 395,000 units,” said interim chief executive, Mike Baunton.

“Despite ongoing economic concerns, consistent monthly growth in the market is an encouraging sign of returning consumer confidence as motorists are attracted to forecourts by new models and the latest technologies.”

Data below courtesy SMMT

March Total Diesel Petrol AFV Private Fleet Business
               
2013 394,806 187,239 202,249 5,318 204,299 171,728 18,779
2012 372,835 181,368 186,047 5,420 189,468 165,565 17,802
% change 5.9% 3.2% 8.7% -1.9% 7.8% 3.7% 5.5%
Mkt share ’13   47.4% 51.2% 1.3% 51.7% 43.5% 4.8%
Mkt share ’12   48.6% 49.9% 1.5% 50.8% 44.4% 4.8%
               
Year-to-date Total Diesel Petrol AFV Private Fleet Business
               
2013 605,198 292,403 304,356 8,439 294,656 282,695 27,847
2012 563,556 283,872 271,486 8,198 264,884 273,898 24,774
% change 7.4% 3.0% 12.1% 2.9% 11.2% 3.2% 12.4%
Mkt share ’13   48.3% 50.3% 1.4% 48.7% 46.7% 4.6%
Mkt share ’12   50.4% 48.2% 1.5% 47.0% 48.6% 4.4%
               
Best sellers March          Year-to-date
               
  1 Fiesta 22,748   1 Fiesta 34,309
  2 Corsa 16,169   2 Focus 25,081
  3 Focus 15,434   3 Corsa 24,561
  4 Golf 9,978   4 Astra 17,202
  5 Astra 9,559   5 Golf 15,726
  6 Qashqai 8,465   6 Qashqai 14,601
  7 Polo 7,431   7 Polo 11,753
  8 1 Series 7,001   8 208 11,108
  9 208 6,726   9 C-Class 10,301
  10 C-Class 6,628   10 Juke 10,010