• The September plate-change saw 332,476 new cars registered, just 0.8% down on last year.
• Quarter three volumes down just 0.7%, with January to September volumes down 5.0% on a year ago.
• Growth in fleet volumes supported the market while private registrations were down 9.3%.
• SMMT expects the full year new car market to end 5.3% below 2010 levels at 1.92 million units.
• Average new car CO₂ emissions fell by 4.0% to 138.5g/km.

He commented: 'The all-important September market outperformed expectations and is less than 1% below last year at 332,476 units. 'We expected 2011 to be a challenging year and we are on track for a full year total of around 1.92 million new car registrations, 5% below 2010. SMMT has revised down its 2012 registrations forecast to 1.96 million units; a reflection of the continued weakness in UK domestic demand and the uncertainty across European economies. It is important government acts to sustain an investment-led recovery and implements measures to encourage more private sector investment in R&D, skills, new plants and machinery.'