New car sales up 7.9 per cent in May (2012) - Vauxhall Corsa best-seller

New car sales jumped 7.9 per cent in May 2012 compared to a year ago and the Vauxhall Corsa ousted the Ford Fiesta as top seller.

Yes, we’re still in the depths of a recession and the Eurozone is in meltdown. Banks aren’t lending money and everyone’s tightening their belts. But no one seems to have told UK car buyers.

UK new car sales jumped by 7.9 per cent in May (2012) to 162,288, an increase of 11,857 over May 2011, the third month in a row new car sales have increased and the largest monthly sales jump for nearly two years. Sales in 2012 – at 866,166 in the first five months – are 2.0 per cent ahead of 2011.

Paul Everitt, SMMT boss, said:

May’s 7.9% increase in new car registrations is good news for the motor industry and the UK economy, particularly the steady growth in demand from private buyers,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive.
The consistent climb in new car registrations during the first five months of the year suggests that confidence is returning, despite financial uncertainty in the eurozone.

Interestingly, the Ford Fiesta was knocked off its perch at the top of the sales top ten by the Vauxhall Corsa in May, although the Fiesta is still the best-selling car in the UK in 2012 with 50,507 sold so far.