Ford Fiesta back on top as car sales continued to rise in June

UK new car sales were up again in June 2012 with an increase of 3.5 per cent year on year. The Ford Fiesta is back as the top seller.

It’s hard to credit that there’s a recession on when one of the biggest purchases most of us ever make – a new car – seems immune to the economic doom and gloom.

But the temptation of the new technology and lower running costs offered by new cars continues to tempt buyers in the UK, with new car sale up 3.5 per cent in June 2012 to 189,514 – 6,389 up on June 2011.

That figure sees new car sales in the UK in 2012 break through the one million mark in just half a year and is the fourth month in a row new car sales have risen.

Ford has also regained top spot with the Fiesta, pushing last month’s big seller – the Vauxhall Corsa – in to second place, and diesel car sale were up by seven per cent over June 2011 and petrol car sales down 0.9 per cent.

Alternatively fuelled cars saw a strong rise in June – up almost 50 per cent on June 2011 – but they still only accounted for 2481 sales, just over a quarter of what the Fiesta managed all on its own.

Let’s hope it all continues. The economy certainly needs it.