Currently reading: Fleet sales keep UK car market afloat as private sales dip again

Overall market's 2.5% July rise is 24th consecutive month of growth

The UK has now experienced two years of consistent new car market growth following July’s 2.5% rise, data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has revealed.

Like other months this year, July’s 147,517 deliveries were propped up by fleet sales, whose total of 91,521 represented a year-on-year rise of 13%.

The 11.1% year-on-year decline in private sales (to 53,356) means non-business deliveries now make up just 36.2% of the market. In mitigation, the SMMT said the growing popularity of salary-sacrifice purchasing will have contributed to this decline.

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