9:49 am, May 7, 2011
IN response to April’s registrations figures, the RMI has said the April ‘market performed relatively well.’
April saw registration figures down by 7.4 per cent – the tenth successive decline in volumes.
Sue Robinson, director of the RMI National Franchised Dealers Association – which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers across the UK and Northern Ireland – said: ‘April market has performed relatively well during a period that has seen a lot of disruption with a number of factors slowing the market.
‘There have been a number of bank holidays which resulted in slow showroom traffic, although when consumers visited they did tend to buy. There has also been a knock on affect on supply after the disaster in Japan and there are still signs of a lack of consumer confidence. That said the results show that despite the conditions people are still out there visiting showrooms and purchasing vehicles.
‘On the supply side, the impact of the Japan Tsunami will lengthen lead times over the summer and this will see the deferral of some new car registrations. All this contrasts with the experience of the UK automotive manufacturers who continue to benefit from strong export demand principally from Asia. What this means for the UK automotive industry, despite the mounting pressures on UK new car sales, is that the mood amongst component suppliers, manufacturers.’
