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Buyers put brakes on new car registrations in Wales
publication date: Oct 7, 2011
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author/source: Robin Roberts
New
car sales in Wales have fallen more steeply than other parts of mainland
Britain, according to the latest SMMT figures.
The September 61-plated registrations went down nearly 6pc over the
same time last year, from 13,159 to 12,377. The UK average was under 1pc down.Top
cars sold in Wales last month were (right) Ford Fiesta 995, Ford Focus 653, Vauxhall Corsa
586, VW Polo 353, Vauxhall Astra 313, VW Golf 296, Nissan Qashqai 262, Mini 240,
Ford Ka 216 and Renault Clio 214.
|  | "Although
it is positive to see a rise in fleet car sales volumes, there is still great
cause for concern in the retail car market." said Sue Robinson, Director
of the RMI National Franchised Dealers Association which represents franchised
car and commercial vehicle retailers across the UK.
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Commenting
on the latest car registration figures, David Raistrick, UK Manufacturing Leader at Deloitte,
said,"Private and corporate buyers
have reached a ‘tipping point'. "Today's figures indicate an overall shift from retention to
replacement, with buyers having previously deferred purchases and now
feeling they can delay no further.
| New car
sales figures, released today, show month on month sales were down just 0.8%
compared to September last year.
Year to date sales are down 5% on a
year ago. While growth in fleet volumes supported the market, private
registrations were down 9.3%.
Sue
Robinson added, "Consumers are still experiencing rising household
expenses and diminishing disposable income. Those that do have access to
disposable income are still nervous about purchasing big ticket items. Instead
they are putting off larger purchases until there are signs that the economy
has began to recover.
"The
Government needs to look at schemes that could improve consumer confidence and
boost spending, a message that we gave to all political parties at the recent
party conferences." | | |
Confidence returned
to the commercial vehicle market in 2011 and the September market continues the
upward trend, growing 8.8% on last year, said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief
Executive.
"The future state of the economy is certainly a
concern, but it's clear that owners and operators are currently investing in
new, fuel-efficient vehicles to help weather the storm of high fuel prices, "
he added.
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