We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Car website. However, if you would like to, you can change your cookies at any time
The start point for the best source of fleet information |
New car registrations in the UK suffered another decline in February.
Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that 80,805 new cars were registered, a 2.8% drop compared with February 2017.
Despite representing a continued decline, this figure was an improvement on January, when year-on-year registrations fell by 6.3%.
Unlike in January, fleet registrations - defined by the SMMT as those made by businesses with 25 or more vehicles - were outperformed by private registrations, falling by 2.5% compared with 2%.
Business sales, defined as those made to firms with less than 25 vehicles, fell by 30.4%, but only represented 1.2% of the market.
Overall, demand for petrol and alternatively fuelled vehicles rose in February by 14.4% and 7.2% respectively, but demand for diesels fell by 23.5%.
For the year so far, overall registrations are down 5.1%, with fleet, private and business registrations down 2.1%, 7.1% and 29.8% respectively.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: "Although the new car market has dipped, it remains at a good level despite the drop in demand for diesel.
"Consumers should be reassured, however, that the latest cars are the cleanest in history and can help address air quality issues, which is why they are exempt from any restrictions.
"Looking ahead to the crucial number plate change month of March, we expect a further softening, given March 2017 was a record as registrations were pulled forward to avoid VED changes."
In February the Ford Fiesta remained by far the UK's bestselling car, with 5,201 registrations during the month.
The Volkswagen Golf was second with 2,927 and the Ford Focus third with 2,052.
BusinessCar magazine ©2019
Business Car Magazine © 2020 | Business Car is part of NS Media Group.
