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Fleets fuel new car and van sales record

Ford Fiesta Transit 66
Ford continues to dominate both car and van markets with Fiesta and Transit

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8 December 2016

New registrations for November 2016

  • UK new car market rises 2.9% in November, with 184,101 vehicles registered
  • Alternatively fuelled vehicles match January record market share of 3.6% – up by a quarter
  • Pick-up sales up by 36.7%
  • 2,514,764 new cars registered January to November – a record for the period.

CAR and van sales kept rising in November with new car registrations for the year-to-date passing 2.5 million in record time and van sales over a third of a million, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The SMMT figures show 184,101 new cars were registered in the UK this November, with fleets fuelling the growth as private purchases dipped again – the market increasing by a steady 2.9% to pass the 2.5 million new cars milestone in November for the first time.

The tally of 29,784 new LCVs is the most for the month since the SMMT records began two decades ago, with pick-up sales up by 36.7% to nearly 4,000. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “The new van market’s growth in November is welcome news and an encouraging sign of ongoing business confidence.”

“With almost 350,000 light commercials registered so far this year, the sector remains on track to beat 2015’s record-breaking performance.”

Once again Ford topped the charts for cars and commercials, with Fiesta keeping its crown for an eighth year while, as for the past half century, the Transit leads LCV sales with the blue oval brand outselling nearly the combined totals of nearest van rivals Volkswagen and Mercedes.

On the car front demand for alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) remained strong in the month, growing 25.1% to 6,663 units, representing 3.6% of the market – the highest ever achieved. Petrol registrations grew 7.9% to 88,541 units, while diesels just kept ahead on market share with 88,897 vehicles registered – down 2.9%.

Superminis continued to be the most popular body style – making up more than a quarter (29.7%) of all cars registered in November, followed by small family cars and SUVs. Executive and city cars enjoyed the biggest growth, up 27.7% and 25% respectively.

car and van sales

Meanwhile, fleets accounted for more than half of the market, as registrations to private buyers fell slightly by 1.2% – but Ford reported a 19% rise in retail sales.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “Our industry continues to make vehicles that are ever safer, more refined, more efficient and more enjoyable to drive – and the latest advanced technology and cutting-edge designs are continuing to attract buyers into showrooms.

“It’s encouraging to see that alternatively fuelled vehicles, although still a small proportion of the market, have seen strong growth this month achieving a record market share. Long-term government support and incentives are essential if these vehicles are to command a larger market share in the future.”

car and van sales

 

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