Figures released by the SMMT show that 492,774 cars were sold in the UK in March 2015 – the best month since the twice-yearly number plate changes were introduced in 1999.
The March total was 6% ahead of last year and was driven by strong sales in the business/fleet sector – which showed an 11.6% increase on last year.
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March was the 37th month of consecutive growth in the UK car market, which is being underpinned by low interest rates and a relatively buoyant UK economy. The UK new car market in the first quarter is up by 6.8% on last year’s pace to 734,588 units.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “The best month this century for new car registrations is a welcome boost for the UK’s thriving automotive sector. The challenge for a new government and industry will be to maintain this momentum and to strengthen Britain’s manufacturing capabilities through continued investment, innovation and policies which maintain our global competitiveness. Whatever the general election result, the new government must keep up the commitment to the sector which is delivering at home and abroad.”
The SMMT also published its policy “priorities for a new government”. It included the “continued delivery of the Automotive Sector Strategy through the Automotive Council” which it said will be “essential in developing the supply chain, skills, technology and business environment to assure global competitiveness”.
It also said that membership of the European Union is “critical to the UK automotive industry; the sector’s competitiveness is dependent on access to the European single market, integrated supply chains, international trade agreements, common regulations, funding for innovation and free movement of labour”. SMMT added that its members “want to see reform of the EU with greater emphasis on industrial competitiveness and better regulation but believe membership of the EU remains best for business”.
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By GlobalDataUK car sales
| March | Total | Diesel | Petrol | AFV | Private | Fleet | Business |
| 2015 | 492774 | 229357 | 249082 | 14335 | 253043 | 219153 | 20578 |
| 2014 | 464824 | 222409 | 233702 | 8713 | 246488 | 196304 | 22032 |
| % change | 6.00% | 3.10% | 6.60% | 64.50% | 2.70% | 11.60% | -6.60% |
| Mkt share ’15 | 46.50% | 50.50% | 2.90% | 51.40% | 44.50% | 4.20% | |
| Mkt share ’14 | 47.80% | 50.30% | 1.90% | 53.00% | 42.20% | 4.70% | |
| Year-to-date | Total | Diesel | Petrol | AFV | Private | Fleet | Business |
| 2015 | 734588 | 349741 | 364062 | 20785 | 351571 | 354690 | 28327 |
| 2014 | 688122 | 334962 | 340376 | 12784 | 347668 | 309545 | 30909 |
| % change | 6.80% | 4.40% | 7.00% | 62.60% | 1.10% | 14.60% | -8.40% |
| Mkt share ’15 | 47.60% | 49.60% | 2.80% | 47.90% | 48.30% | 3.90% | |
| Mkt share ’14 | 48.70% | 49.50% | 1.90% | 50.50% | 45.00% | 4.50% | |
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |
| Total cars | 2131795 | 1994999 | 2030846 | 1941253 | 2044609 | 2264737 | 2476435 |
|
Best sellers |
March |
Year-to-date |
|||||
| 1 | Ford Fiesta | 27034 | 1 | Ford Fiesta | 39804 | ||
| 2 | Vauxhall Corsa | 19391 | 2 | Vauxhall Corsa | 29100 | ||
| 3 | Ford Focus | 15442 | 3 | Ford Focus | 22287 | ||
| 4 | Nissan Qashqai | 12210 | 4 | Volkswagen Golf | 19435 | ||
| 5 | Volkswagen Golf | 11871 | 5 | Nissan Qashqai | 18686 | ||
| 6 | Volkswagen Polo | 10038 | 6 | Vauxhall Astra | 15009 | ||
| 7 | Vauxhall Astra | 9617 | 7 | Volkswagen Polo | 14821 | ||
| 8 | Audi A3 | 9101 | 8 | Audi A3 | 14358 | ||
| 9 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 8755 | 9 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 13975 | ||
| 10 | Fiat 500 | 8662 | 10 | Fiat 500 | 13243 | ||
