Figures from Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that last month saw the most successful month of UK car sales since the bi-annual plate registration took effect in 1999. March this year saw 518,707 models sold across the nation which signals a 5.3% increase on March 2015. It wasn't just March that broke records either, as there was a 5.1% increase on car sales in Q1 of 2016 compared to Q1 2015, 771,780 and 734,588 respectively.
The best selling car of the period is the Ford Fiesta, with 23,467 models sold in March alone, making a total of 36,327 for the first quarter of the year. The Fiesta was then followed by the Vauxhall Corsa and Ford Focus, with sales of 17,368 and 14,002 respectively in March. More than fifth of cars sold came in white, despite many brands charging extra for the colour. So if you happen to see several white Fiestas on the road in weeks to come don't be too surprised.
This is the only the third time that figures have exceeded half a million in a single month since bi-annual registration began. It's not just petrol and diesel that buyers are opting for either, alternative fuel saw an impressive increase of 21.5%. The figures from SMMT also show that out of the cars purchased, more than a third were superminis, making it the most popular bodyshape.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “The sector’s strong growth in March rounds off a robust first quarter as British consumers continue to demonstrate their appetite for new cars, especially ultra-low emission vehicles. This confidence should see registrations remain at a high but broadly stable level over the year, but could be undermined by political or economic uncertainty.”