UK new car sales continue to grow in June, sales of diesel cars up 7 percent

The UK new car market has grown for the fourth month in succession, and is continuing to surpass industry expectations. The new car market continued its positive 2012 by recording a 3.5 percent rise in June 2012 compared to the same month last year.

A total of 189,514 new cars were registered last month, the fourth successive month that the new car market has shown a year-on-year increase. In June 2011, the total was 183,125.

The amount of new cars registered in 2012 has now broken through the one million mark, with the total of 1,057,680 surpassing industry expectations. "Driven by demand from private buyers, June new car registrations grew 3.5 percent to push 2012 half-year volumes through the one million mark," said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive.

"Despite domestic and international economic concerns, UK motorists are responding positively to new products and the latest fuel-efficient technology. The industry has performed better than expected in the first half of the year and we will now need to work hard to sustain growth."

Sales of diesel-powered cars were seven percent higher last month compared to June 2011, while petrol-engined cars recorded a 0.9 percent year-on-year decrease.

The alternatively fuelled car sector enjoyed a 47.8 per cent year-on-year rise in sales, with 2,481 sold in June compared to 1,679 the previous year, although this still represents only 1.3 per cent of the total new car market.

After being usurped by the Vauxhall Corsa as the UK’s best-selling car last month, the Ford Fiesta regained top spot in June, with 9063 sold.

UK’s best-selling cars, June 2012

1 Ford Fiesta 9,063 units sold

2 Vauxhall Corsa 8,800

3 Ford Focus 6,937

4 Volkswagen Golf 6,311

5 BMW 3-series 5,830

6 Vauxhall Astra 5,472

7 Mini 4,807

8 Nissan Qashqai 4,775

9 Volkswagen Polo 3,378

10 Fiat 500 3,324

MATT BURT, AUTOCAR UK