Latest registration figures show continued recovery in fleet sector
According to the latest SMMT data, a total of 31,544 new cars were registered to fleets in August – up by 8.2% on the total of 29,146 for August 2009.
However, the picture was less rosy for the sub 25 fleet sector, with registrations to small fleets down by 27.4% last month, to a total of 1,574 units.
Meanwhile, the consumer sector saw registrations plummet 37.8% to 22,187 units and the total market figure was down 17.5%.
Year to date, the figures remain more positive. Fleet sales are up 14.5% on the first eight months of 2009, standing at 625,438 units, while small fleet registrations remain up 3.5% at 61,886 units. YTD consumer sales were also up on 2009, by 12.9%.
'New car registrations were down 17.5% in August and conditions will remain challenging through the rest of the year,' said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive. 'The industry enjoyed a better than expected first half of the year and, despite the difficulties, SMMT is forecasting that new car registrations will close just ahead of 2009 figures.'