New car sales in the UK up by 9.3 percent in July

August 6, 2012: The UK’s new car market grew by 9.3 per cent July, according to sales figures issued by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The 143,884 sales figure for the month is the best sales result this year and represents the fifth monthly gain. Last year, sales in the same month totalled 131,634, following the industry’s 13th consecutive monthly decline in volumes. The Ford Fiesta, with 7,533 units sold, was the best-seller in July (pictured above).

This year, new car sales in the first seven months are up by 3.5 percent to 1,201,564 units compared with 2011. With the buoyant market, the SMMT has revised its 2012 sales forecast from 1.94 million to 1.97 million.

"New car registrations rose 9.3 percent in July, continuing the upward trend seen during recent months. The SMMT’s full-year forecast is for 1.97 million cars to be registered during 2012, suggesting a slight slowing of demand in the second half of the year," according to SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt. "International economic stability remains a concern for vehicle manufacturers and the UK market, but intense competition and new fuel-efficient products are creating great opportunities for motorists," said Everitt.

Results from the SMMT also revealed a 45.9 per cent July increase in sales of alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) compared with July 2011. Last month 2,079 AFVs were sold, compared with 1,425 in July last year.

Meanwhile, the UK’s commercial vehicle market rose 8.1% to 22,353 registrations in July 2012, rolling year up 2.9 percent to 296,221 units. Van registrations were up 10.2 percent to 18,913 units in July, rolling year stable at -0.1 percent, with 248,452 registrations. Truck registrations however dipped 2.2 percent at 3,440 in the month, rolling year up 22.4 percent to 47,769.

UK’s best-selling new cars, July 2012

1 Ford Fiesta 7,533 units sold

2 Vauxhall Corsa 5,809

3 Vauxhall Astra 5,211

4 Ford Focus 4,742

5 Volkswagen Golf 4,367

6 Nissan Qashqai 3,721

7 Mercedes C-class 3,163

8 Volkswagen Polo 2,863

9 Audi A3 2,711

10 Vauxhall Insignia 2,591