UK Car Sales up again in October 2012

New car registrations rose in October by 12.1 per cent in the UK, the ninth month of 2012 to see rising car sales.

The European car market may be in a real mess with carnage looming for production facilities run by mainstream car makers, but the UK continues to grow its new car market with sales in October up by 12.1 per cent.

Total new car registrations (which includes pre-reg) rose to 151,252 units, the ninth monthly increase of 2012, and the SMMT are now predicting total sales for 2012 of over 2 million, back to 2010 levels after a fall in 2011 to below the 2 million mark.

Top seller in October was once again the Ford Fiesta, with sales more than 1700 ahead of its nearest rival, the Vauxhall Corsa, and sales of alternatively fuelled vehicles have risen by 13 per cent in 2012, although they still represent a minuscule part of the market at under 25,000 units.

Paul Everitt, SMMT boss, said:

Despite uncertainty in the European economy, the UK new car market continues to grow, with registrations rising more than 12% in October to 151,252 units.
It is encouraging to see the alternatively-fuelled vehicle market performing strongly, up 13% so far this year. Although the alternatively-fuelled vehicle sector represents only a small share of the overall market, it is vital that government sustains its consumer incentive programme and maximises the benefits available through the vehicle taxation system.

We’re not sure we agree with Paul on the alternatively fuelled subsidy as it stands; we’d much rather see tax breaks for cars with low NOx and particulate emissions in general rather than subsidising the futile quest to turn reluctant motorists on to BEVs.

But good to see the UK car market is still strong.