UK new car sales in ‘plate change’ September (64) rose 5.6% year on year to 425,861 units.

This was the best September result since 2004 and the 31st consecutive month of growth in new car sales.

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Registrations for the year to date rose 9.1% to 1,958,196.

September and March (14) – the two months when plate ID numbers change – together account for a third of a year’s registrations.

After March’s 18% surge, September’s more moderate growth indicates demand is starting to level off, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.

Chief executive Mike Hawes said: “September’s strong performance underlined the continuing robustness of the UK new car market, particularly in the context of last September’s bumper volumes.

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“Demand for the new 64-plate has been boosted by intensifying confidence in the UK economy, with consumers attracted by a wide range of exciting, increasingly fuel-efficient, new cars. In the months since March – which saw an 18% jump in registrations – the growth has shown signs of levelling off as the market starts to find its natural running rate.”

September Total Diesel Petrol AFV Private Fleet Business
               
2014 425,861 204,105 211,801 9,955 221,146 178,771 25,944
2013 403,136 192,816 203,933 6,387 208,864 170,535 23,737
% change 5.6% 5.9% 3.9% 55.9% 5.9% 4.8% 9.3%
Mkt share ’14   47.9% 49.7% 2.3% 51.9% 42.0% 6.1%
Mkt share ’13   47.8% 50.6% 1.6% 51.8% 42.3% 5.9%
               
Year-to-date Total Diesel Petrol AFV Private Fleet Business
               
2014 1,958,196 974,233 946,121 37,842 956,381 904,772 97,043
2013 1,794,924 878,754 890,998 25,172 869,436 842,223 83,265
% change 9.1% 10.9% 6.2% 50.3% 10.0% 7.4% 16.5%
Mkt share ’14   49.8% 48.3% 1.9% 48.8% 46.2% 5.0%
Mkt share ’13   49.0% 49.6% 1.4% 48.4% 46.9% 4.6%
               
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Total cars 2,404,007 2,131,795 1,994,999 2,030,846 1,941,253 2,044,609 2,264,737
               
Best sellers September       Year-to-date
               
  1 Ford Fiesta 23,266   1 Ford Fiesta 106,930
  2 Ford Focus 13,508   2 Ford Focus 67,015
  3 Volkswagen Golf 13,011   3 Vauxhall Corsa 62,693
  4 Vauxhall Corsa 12,506   4 Volkswagen Golf 58,664
  5 Volkswagen Polo 10,312   5 Vauxhall Astra 47,482
  6 Fiat 500 9,122   6 Nissan Qashqai 38,920
  7 Vauxhall Astra 8,861   7 Volkswagen Polo 36,772
  8 Audi A3 7,317   8 Audi A3 35,596
  9 Peugeot 208 6,968   9 Fiat 500 35,032
  10 Nissan Qashqai 6,847   10 BMW 3 Series 29,655
                             

 
Source: SMMT