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Hybrid used sales accelerating in Wales
publication date: Dec 13, 2008
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author/source: Robin Roberts
Welsh motorists are hybrid happy.
Latest figures for used car sales in Wales logged by Experian analysts
show a 290pc rise in purchases of used hybrids as buyers turn their
backs on petrol and diesel cars.
That’s a swing of nearly five times as many who have made the switch in
the UK as a whole.
Experian figures for the third quarter of this year also show that
Welsh motorists have been snapping up cars aged 6-9 years and left many
aged 3-6 years on the forecourts of frustrated dealers.
|  | The most popular type of used car bought in Wales this
summer was the same as in the UK as a whole, the MPVs, closely followed
by superminis and the least popular cars were executive and luxury
models.
Honda was the only brand in the top dozen to have increased its number of used models sold compared to a year ago.
Kirk Fletcher, Managing Director of Experian’s Automotive division,
said, “The criteria for choosing a car have changed significantly, with
price consciousness featuring heavily on the list for more consumers
now than ever before.
“As a result, the biggest casualties in the used car market have been
the more expensive to run cars, such as the luxury, executive and upper
medium segments, but in particular the SUVs, which had until recently
been leaping in sales.
“Although sales of these segments are slowing down, sales have
nonetheless still been made. The upper medium segment, for example, is
still the third most popular selling segment. Our advice to dealers,
therefore, is a re-evaluation of their stocking policies. “Feedback
from our clients, who are not only maintaining a stable base, but still
managing to grow a little, highlights the value knowing what type of
vehicle is selling most in certain areas, then reviewing and managing
their stocking policies accordingly.
“Experian’s MarketView Online, for example, has enabled our clients to
do just that, by giving them an greater insight into exactly what
people are buying and where.” |
Brits are buying more used cars than ever before according to new figures from Motorpoint.
The latest data from the car supermarket giant shows demand for used cars has reached its highest level in the 10 year history of the company, which sells some 35,000 cars a year.
Buoyed by savings of over 70pc on equivalent new models, last month some 94.8pc of all cars sold were used. This is in stark contrast to this time last year, when just over 70pc of cars were used. Total sales for November 2008 were up 19.4pc.
This trend flies in the face of official figures from the SMMT, which show sales of used cars across the UK down by over 2pc, reflecting the general downward trend across all car sectors.
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