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| Car sales at September record as demand for petrol vehicles soars | Car sales at September record as demand for petrol vehicles soars |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Car sales accelerated in September to an all-time high for the month, driven by a surge in purchases of petrol vehicles, according to industry figures. | Car sales accelerated in September to an all-time high for the month, driven by a surge in purchases of petrol vehicles, according to industry figures. |
| The usually strong month for sales was boosted by sales increases for all types of vehicles, including diesel cars, but the 12.3% petrol increase was the main factor pushing total registrations to 462,517 – 8.6% ahead of last September’s figure. | The usually strong month for sales was boosted by sales increases for all types of vehicles, including diesel cars, but the 12.3% petrol increase was the main factor pushing total registrations to 462,517 – 8.6% ahead of last September’s figure. |
| Some analysts had expected diesel sales to falter after the Volkswagen scandal hit the headlines, revealing that Europe’s biggest carmaker had cheated emissions tests on millions of diesel cars. But it is likely that advance deposits on diesels, often made months ahead, cushioned the blow to the industry. | Some analysts had expected diesel sales to falter after the Volkswagen scandal hit the headlines, revealing that Europe’s biggest carmaker had cheated emissions tests on millions of diesel cars. But it is likely that advance deposits on diesels, often made months ahead, cushioned the blow to the industry. |
| Related: VW scandal: staff told all carmaker's investments are under review | Related: VW scandal: staff told all carmaker's investments are under review |
| The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said the popularity of new cars was unabated as buyers exploited a range of competitive deals on the latest 65 plate, making it the 43rd consecutive month of growth in the market. Sales this year have moved up another gear to overtake the 2m mark, the first time since 2004. | |
| The Ford Fiesta retained its position as Britain’s top-selling car in an industry increasingly dominated by smaller-engined vehicles. The Vauxhall Corsa and Ford Focus were second and third in the rankings. Although the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is one of the 10 bestselling cars this year, it dropped out of the September list along with the Audi A3. | The Ford Fiesta retained its position as Britain’s top-selling car in an industry increasingly dominated by smaller-engined vehicles. The Vauxhall Corsa and Ford Focus were second and third in the rankings. Although the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is one of the 10 bestselling cars this year, it dropped out of the September list along with the Audi A3. |
| It is possible that people had already turned against larger-engined cars, but it is more likely that Mercedes and Audi were suffering from the reluctance of consumers to buy diesels. | It is possible that people had already turned against larger-engined cars, but it is more likely that Mercedes and Audi were suffering from the reluctance of consumers to buy diesels. |
| The increase in diesels was 4.1% in September, well behind the figure for petrol car sales in a market that has seen purchases balanced between the two types for several years. Hybrid vehicles and electric cars zoomed ahead after a 21.7% increase, albeit from a relatively low base. | The increase in diesels was 4.1% in September, well behind the figure for petrol car sales in a market that has seen purchases balanced between the two types for several years. Hybrid vehicles and electric cars zoomed ahead after a 21.7% increase, albeit from a relatively low base. |
| Howard Archer, the chief UK economist at IHS Global Insight, said the strong rise in sales bucked the trend for modest high street sales and the uncertainty among business and consumers triggered by the stock market gyrations during the summer. | Howard Archer, the chief UK economist at IHS Global Insight, said the strong rise in sales bucked the trend for modest high street sales and the uncertainty among business and consumers triggered by the stock market gyrations during the summer. |
| Related: UK government wrong to subsidise diesel, says former minister | Related: UK government wrong to subsidise diesel, says former minister |
| “While the UK economy may currently be going through a softer patch, this is certainly not true of car sales, which notched up a highly impressive year-on-year gain in the key month of September, with increases across all sectors. | “While the UK economy may currently be going through a softer patch, this is certainly not true of car sales, which notched up a highly impressive year-on-year gain in the key month of September, with increases across all sectors. |
| “Despite September’s strong gain, It is unrealistic to expect car sales to keep churning out strong year-on-year growth rates given that they have now risen for a record 43 consecutive months, and are now coming from a very high base. | “Despite September’s strong gain, It is unrealistic to expect car sales to keep churning out strong year-on-year growth rates given that they have now risen for a record 43 consecutive months, and are now coming from a very high base. |
| “The likely main concern for the car industry is that a current more uncertain economic outlook causes fleet operators to be more cautious in their purchases of new vehicles. | “The likely main concern for the car industry is that a current more uncertain economic outlook causes fleet operators to be more cautious in their purchases of new vehicles. |
| “The economic fundamentals still look largely healthy for the motor industry, which will hopefully allow car sales to at least stabilise at an elevated level over the coming months. Car sales will also likely to continue to be buoyed by attractive offers and finance packages. It remains to be seen what impact the VW scandal has on sales of diesel cars.” | “The economic fundamentals still look largely healthy for the motor industry, which will hopefully allow car sales to at least stabilise at an elevated level over the coming months. Car sales will also likely to continue to be buoyed by attractive offers and finance packages. It remains to be seen what impact the VW scandal has on sales of diesel cars.” |
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