October new car registrations in the UK rose 20.7 per cent to a record 185,325
units, according to the latest figures released today by the SMMT. Year-to-date,
the new car market is up 10.1 per cent at 2,148,025 units. The revised year-end
SMMT forecast now stands at 2.38 million units. (In 1989, 2,300,944 units were
registered, the highest annual total on record.)

Commenting on the figures, SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan said:

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"While some analysts had predicted a slump, with claims that showroom
traffic had slowed to a trickle, the reality has proved to be quite the opposite.
We have seen huge market growth, once again led by private buyers.

"Consumers are confident. There’s no doubt about that. They know a good
deal when they see one and there are plenty of those at franchised dealers at
the moment. No one would suggest that 13 consecutive months of growth will last
forever. But equally we need to be careful not to talk down a very strong market
for new car sales. Be sure that 2001 will be a record year", he added.

 

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