The UK’s new car market has recorded its best-ever half-year registration results, with 1,420,635 vehicles shifted between January and June, a 3.2% increase on the same period as last year, the latest Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders figures have revealed.
The fleet market as a whole grew by 4.7% during the period, with 717,493 cars registered so far in 2016.
Growth in the market was recorded across all fuel types, with diesel and petrol car registrations growing by 2.3% and 3.0% in the first six months of 2016, while alternatively-fuelled vehicles, hybrid and plug-in cars, increased by 21.3%.
AFVs now account for 3.2% of the overall car market, the SMMT said.
Demand for new cars in June fell by 0.8%, meanwhile, with the fleet market once again driving the market by 4.5%, compensating for a 4.5% fall in private registrations.
“It is far too soon to determine whether the referendum result has had an impact on the new car market,” said Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive. “The first six months saw strong demand at record levels but the market undoubtedly cooled over the second quarter.”
“It’s important government takes every measure to restore business and economic confidence to avoid the market contracting in the coming months,” Hawes added.