|
|
Experian reports tougher trading as year begins
publication date: Jun 29, 2010
|
author/source: Robin Roberts
Experian says used car sales in the UK for the first
quarter of 2010 were 7.6 per cent lower than Q1 2009.
The fall was led by the upper medium segment down by 12.2 per cent,
followed by the multi-purpose vehicles (MPV) segment which saw sales
fall by 10.6 per cent.
| However, the quarter-on-quarter picture reflected a
common trend for
this time of the year by increasing, up 14.8 per cent compared to Q4
2009.
In contrast to the year-on-year change, this was led by sales of
MPVs with a 27.3 per cent increase in sales when compared with the
previous quarter. Within this segment, the Vauxhall Zafira was the
top-selling model. Mark Wilkinson, Head of Sales for Experian Automotive,
said, “Despite the VAT increase being delayed until January next year,
challenges will continue to face the industry for the foreseeable
future.
“With 2009 seeing some of the lowest sales volumes of the last ten
years, and with the scrappage discount incentive at an end, a smaller
supply of younger, good quality stock will be available for the
second-hand market.
Retailers are likely to be reviewing stock profile
more than ever. This means that they will be looking to maximise
profitability from the stock available and that managing risk and
avoiding vehicles with a chequered history will become a top priority."
The mini category, which includes the Daewoo Matiz and
the Fiat Seicento, was the only segment to buck the trend and avoid
year-on-year decline in sales. All the other segments suffered, with the
upper medium segment, including cars such as the Ford Mondeo and BMW 3
Series, seeing the highest drop of 12.2 per cent.
Year-on-year, used cars from all makes saw their sales fall. After
Rover, Fiat saw the highest decline in used car sales, down 10 percent.
The biggest increases from Q4 2009 to Q1 2010 came from Citroen,
Renault and Peugeot. | A Welsh mechanic has won silver in the annual
Automobile Technology skills competition.
Phil Roberts from Central Garage in Llanwrst
impressed judges with his abilities in what is seen as the garage
trade's equivalent of The Brits awards. Eighteen
year old Alex Knight who works for Gatwick Honda in Crawley, West
Sussex, has been crowned the Automobile Technology overall winner in the
national skills competition. | | | BEN recently launched Dealers backing BEN to follow on
the success achieved with its unique fund raising initiative Fleet
Disposal Contribution Plan.
Launched in April 2010, the Fleets Backing BEN initiative has already
seen 12 of the UK 's top 50 Contract Hire companies sign up, including
ING and Leaseplan.
Fleets Backing BEN is
incredibly simple- vendors sign up through BEN, the participating
auction house collects the money and passes it to the charity. | Hybrid cars saw the most significant increase in sales
(65 per cent) when compared with Q1 2009. However, it was also the only
fuel category that saw a decline since the last quarter (2.3 per cent).
Petrol fuelled cars still dominate the market with over 70 per cent of
sales.
Of all the age groups, younger cars, aged between 0-3 years old, saw the
biggest increase in sales when compared to the last quarter (Q4 2009),
with a 23.2 per cent rise, but also the biggest decline compared to Q1
2009 (down 18.4 per cent). | | | |
Download the Wheels Within Wales toolbar for your quickest way to keep in touch with everything that's happening on Welsh roads and in showrooms or use our RSS feed for the headlines you will not want to miss
|
|
|
.gif){kind=small}