Friday, July 06, 2012
Half-Year registrations better than expected
The new car market rose 3.5% to 189,514 units in June compared to June 2011, which itself was 2.5% ahead of average June volumes for the past three years, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reported today.
Q2 registrations rose by 4.8% compared to Q2 2011, and over the first half of the year have risen 2.7% to more than 1m units. The annual running total stood at 1.970,000 units in June and SMMT’s full-year 2012 forecast now stands at 1,950,000 units.
Private volumes rose 8.7% over the first half of the year, compared to H1 2011 and picked up in recent months, rising 9.8% in June over June 2011. Fleet volumes are on a par with last year, while business demand has fallen.
Alternatively-fuelled car registrations posted a 47.8% rise in June, compared to June 2011, while diesel volumes also rose, pushing their market share over the first half of the year up from 50% a year ago to 51.2%.
Improvements in new car fuel efficiency led to CO2 emissions falling to 134.1g/km over the first half of 2012, down 4% on a year ago and 2.9% compared with 2011’s full-year figure of 138.1g/km.
New models helped Mini segment registrations rise 82.5% in June compared to June 2011. The dual purpose and executive segments also posted double digit-growth in the month. The Ford Fiesta was the best-selling model in June and over the first half of 2012.
SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said: “Despite domestic and international economic concerns, UK motorists are responding positively to new products and the latest fuel-efficient technology. The industry has performed better than expected in the first half of the year and we will now need to work hard to sustain growth.”
DATED: 06.07.12
FEED: MF
