UK Car Sales Leap 58 Per Cent In November

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Thu, 10 Dec 2009

The number of new cars sold in November rose year-on-year by more than 50 per cent, according to latest industry figures.

Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed that 158,082 cars were registered in the UK last month, up by 57.6 per cent from November 2008.

November’s figure brings total car sales for the year so far to 1.84 million, 8.8 per cent lower than the same period last year. The SMMT now expects the full 2009 sales total to reach 1.95 million.

The group said the UK motor industry is continuing to benefit from the government's vehicle scrappage scheme, with the cash for bangers scheme accounting for 21.6 per cent of all new sales last month.

Chief executive Paul Everitt said: "The increase in new car registrations in November reflects the positive impact of the scrappage incentive scheme, customers avoiding the VAT increase in January and the very difficult conditions we experienced a year ago."

However, the SMMT warned that sales could fall in 2010, with the scrappage scheme ending around February, VAT returning to 17.5 per cent in January and the new first-year road tax rates coming into effect in April.

The Ford Fiesta retained its best selling car status with 8,028 units sold in November.