Author:

ROBIN ROBERTS

New car registrations jumped nearly 8pc last month.

Figures out today from the SMMT show the strongest growth since June 2010 when the scrappage scheme was running and it’s the third rise in a row.

Dealers have seen a steady rise in private buyers coming back into the market as well as a return of the fleet buyers who need to refresh their models and move on older existing cars.

The rise has caught out the SMMT and it will be revising its estimate for the rest of the year once it has carefully analysed the May data.

“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. “There is no doubt that vehicle manufacturers and their dealer networks are working hard to deliver value for money to motorists and 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.”

The introduction of new models across the market has helped move sales and the take up of alternatively-fuelled models has rising by almost a third.

The Vauxhall Corsa was the best-selling model in May, with Ford’s Fiesta top over the first five months of 2012.

Best sellers in May: Corsa 8,413; Fiesta 8,337; Focus 6,983; Golf 5,867; Astra 5,433; 3 Series 3,520; Polo 3,228; Qashqai 3,179; Insignia 2,949 and 500 2,823.

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