The new car market has continued a downward trend with a significant decline in October, according to figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
Compared with the same month in 2018, 10,348 fewer cars were registered – a 6.7% decline. The SMMT claims the figures reflect “a tough environment for business and consumers as economic and political uncertainty continued to impact confidence”.
James Fairclough, CEO of AA Cars, released a statement saying the results are “incredibly disappointing”.
It continued: “Hopes had been high that September’s small jump in momentum, sparked by new registration plates, would mark a turning point. A 6.7% fall in sales is surprisingly sharp despite dealerships’ tireless efforts to attract buyers to forecourts.”
However, positive news came as the SMMT revealed that almost one in 10 (9.9%) of cars registered were in the ‘alternatively fuelled’ category, meaning hybrid or battery electric, which is a new record.
The latter was up by 151.8% over the same period in 2018, yet wasn’t enough to cover for a 28.3% decline in diesel car sales. Overall, the market has declined by 2.9% to date this year, which SMMT chief Mike Hawes acknowledges is the eighth month of decline and shows the market is “in need of an injection of confidence”.
He added: “Whether the general election delivers a ‘bounce’ to the economy remains to be seen but, with attractive deals and an ever-greater choice of low, ultra-low and zero emission models arriving in the UK’s showrooms, consumers have every incentive to consider buying a new car.”
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the actual data!
have a look on the smmt website for new registration data; they have a graph going back to 2003, showing that things are actually ok right now, and, if people keep cars for th duration of the warranty period, they're about what you'd expect. '14 '15 and '16 are the busiest years on the graph, so what are they really expecting for '17 '18 and '19?
'08, 10, 11, had lower sales than this year. was that brexit too?
totally unsurprised
price v wages and everything else life throws at you = nah. sales now vs sales during scrappage ripoffs = obviously lower. Do the smmt think people can spend one lot of money more than once? The prices of everything - houses! - are increasing faster than the amount people get paid, eventually "something's gonna give"! People aren't buying things they can't afford or don't need, this isn't a bad thing! Also, if this means factory output are down too, isn't this better for the environment?
Excite me soon.
I have been looking for almost 12m at replacing our second car . An 8 year old 130k mile Megane, bought "nearly new". Not interested in spending more than £20k or £200 per month. I have been to showrooms and shows keen to see a new model or an update, and Phhh, nothing at all. Bored by it all. It is as though we are all stuck in a time warp. Everybody knows somethng better is just around the corner, the public know it, the dealers know it. In the meantime we are offered tarted up old technology at far too high a price. Nothing has caught my interest enough, either as a vehicle in its own right, or as an unbelievable , irresistable deal. So, I will keep with our reliable old girl, battered and bruised, but well serviced and full of character (dents). I will be excited one day soon, probably by a sensibly sized electric that fits the budget, but it's not here yet.