UK new car sales fell 5.4% year on year in February to 69,610 units. Year-to-date sales were off 3.1% at 231,707.

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February sales are usually slow ahead of the bi-annual ‘year identifier’ registration plate change on 1 March.


“The new car market is expected to slip to 2.345mn units in 2008. A significant proportion of this fall is expected to take place in the month of March, which was particularly buoyant in 2007,” the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said in a statement.


“March is the largest volume month and in 2007 accounted for 18.7% of annual demand. Volumes this year are expected to slip to 425,000 units, down 5.4% or almost 25,000 units.”


Diesel registrations posted a fifth successive month of double digit growth (up 11.1% to 31,287 units) and set a February record.

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“Demand for alternatively fuelled cars also rose strongly in the month, up 21.4%, to boost volumes to 1,654 units over the year-to-date,” the SMMT said.


“The Budget on 12 March will need to be uplifting to sustain economic growth. SMMT hopes the motorist will not be targeted, behind a smokescreen of ‘environmental taxes’, as a revenue-raising source.”