► Nearly half a million new car registrations in March 2015
► The biggest figure this century
► 6.8% rise on figures from March 2014
British motorists’ feet are definitely on the gas, as official figures out this week reveal sales of nearly half a million new cars in March 2015 – the highest monthly total for 16 years.
A potent mix of a strengthening economy, cheap deals from finance providers, over-supply from car makers and businesses deciding to upgrade their fleet is sending footfall into showrooms into overdrive, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, which measures sales in the UK.
March 2015 new-car sales: ‘year-on-year growth’
The SMMT said the automotive retail sector continued to boom, with the highest registration figures in March 2015 since 1999.
Ford has proved to be the big winner, with its Fiesta supermini crowned the best-selling car this year, with 39,804 sold in the first quarter, not so closely followed by the Vauxhall Corsa with 29,100 sold. The bulk of those were sold last month.
The 10 best-selling cars in the UK in March 2015 were:
1) Ford Fiesta 27,034
2) Vauxhall Corsa 19,391
3) Ford Focus 15,442
4) Nissan Qashqai 12,210
5) Volkswagen Golf 11,871
6) Volkswagen Polo 10,038
7) Vauxhall Astra 9617
8) Audi A3 9101
9) Mercedes-Benz C-class 8755
10) Fiat 500 8662
Small cars continue to hog the top of the charts, both in March and the year to date. It’s a sign that Brits continue to lap up downsized models, that are less expensive to insure, easier to park, and – most importantly – cheaper to buy in the first place.
Click here to see a full analysis of the UK’s best-sellers in 2014.
Out with the old, in with the new
The release of the ‘15’ number-plate has obviously given British dealers a boost in the arm and SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes described the UK’s automotive sector as ‘thriving’.
But given the industry has been growing for 37 months now – the longest streak of growth in recent memory – the question on everyone’s lips is: how long can this go on?