5:03 am, April 6, 2011
MARCH saw new car registrations fall by 7.9 per cent the latest figures published by the SMMT reveal.
366,101 new 11-reg cars were registered in March, representing a 7.9 per cent fall on 2010.
March bettered expectations, though – up 5.9 per cent on 2010 with scrappage volumes excluded.
Registrations in quarter one fell 8.7 per cent to 558,336 units. The 2011 market is forecast to drop 5.0 per cent to 1.93m.
Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive, said: ‘The UK saw 366,101 new cars registered in March, demonstrating sustained demand in what is traditionally the biggest month of the year.
‘Despite a dip versus 2010, the market remains on course to meet SMMT’s forecast for the year with motorists buying increasingly fuel-efficient and low emitting vehicles across every segment.’
The Ford Fiesta regained its number one place in the sales figures with 19,676 registered in March, and the Ford supermini is the new leader in the year-to-date sales with 27,924 units.
