New 66 plate pushes 2016 car registrations past the two million mark
A plate change always boosts new car registrations, but people seem especially taken with this year’s latest 66-plate offerings, with last month being the strongest September on record for new car registrations.
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All in, September saw 469,696 shiny new 66-plate registrations, marking a year-on-year increase of 1.6%, while year-to-date registration numbers now stand at over two million units – up 2.6% compared with the same period last year.
Two million units this year
In what is only the second time that the two million mark has been passed in September since 2004, it’s not just export figures that are boosting growth, but domestic too. The UK’s new car market is showing strong resilience against any post-Brexit worries, as overall demand continued to grow by 1.6%.
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Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “September is always one of the biggest months for Britain’s new car market. The new 66-plate, combined with a diverse range of exciting new models featuring the latest technology, has certainly helped.”
Fleet making up lost ground
Fleet registrations continued to drive growth, with the sector up 7.3%. This made up for a shortfall in private sales which were down to 223,844 – a decline of 1.7%.
This month saw diesel registrations rise by 2.8%, while petrol’s popularity slowed down and retracted by 1.1%. However, it’s interest in electric vehicles that continue to outpace the market. Their popularity is up 32.6% compared to September last year and now account for 3.4% of the entire market.
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Audi is on form too, with its upmarket A3 hatchback back in the year’s top ten after a four-month hiatus. It knocks the Vauxhall Mokka off the list, and sits just below Mercedes’ C Class. With two premium German models making the grade, it’s likely to be personal lease deals and other methods of financing that’s making them more affordable.
September’s top ten in full
September 2016 | Year-to-date | ||
---|---|---|---|
Ford Fiesta | 19,769 | Ford Fiesta | 96,139 |
Vauxhall Corsa | 14,570 | Vauxhall Corsa | 64,925 |
Volkswagen Golf | 11,003 | Ford Focus | 57,137 |
Ford Focus | 10,992 | Volkswagen Golf | 54,954 |
Nissan Qashqai | 10,619 | Nissan Qashqai | 50,293 |
Volkswagen Polo | 9,765 | Vauxhall Astra | 44,771 |
Vauxhall Astra | 9,495 | Volkswagen Polo | 43,642 |
Audi A3 | 9,252 | Mini | 36,738 |
Mini | 9,025 | Mercedes C Class | 34,994 |
Mercedes C Class | 8,603 | Audi A3 | 33,240 |
September’s growth proves that the UK’s decision to leave the EU hasn’t had a major affect on the industry, Hawes warned that remaining competitive is key, and called on the government to make sure the economy is sustained.
Hawes commented: “The ability of the market to maintain this record level of demand will depend on the ability of government to overcome political uncertainty and safeguard the conditions that underpin consumer appetite.”