Bumper month for car registrations

September was a bumper month for new vehicle registrations, with 425,861 new cars coming onto UK roads.

That’s a 5.6% enhance on August and is the highest total for the crucial month of September for 10 years.

It also marks the thirty-very first consecutive month of growth for the auto market, the Society of Motor Companies and Traders (SMMT) says.

And means registrations are up 6.2% for the third quarter of the year and 9.1% year on year compared to this point in 2013.

Let’s take a closer appear at what cars proved well-liked and why…

Registrations accelerate in September

September is constantly a big month for the auto market because – along with March – it is one of the 2 months in which plates alter.

The UK switched to a twice-yearly plate adjust in 1999. Given that then, September and March account for a lot more than a third of annual car registrations – mostly simply because cars with the new plate preserve their worth greater than these with the old one particular.

The quantity of registrations in March was a lot higher this year, although, surging by an outstanding 18% and pushing 1st quarter growth to 13.7%.

September’s a lot more moderate development is for that reason becoming taken as a sign that demand is starting to level off.

When I’m 64…

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, stated: “Demand for the new 64-plate has been boosted by intensifying self-assurance in the UK economy, with consumers attracted by a wide variety of thrilling, increasingly fuel-effective, new vehicles.

“In the months since March, growth has shown indicators of levelling off as the market place begins to discover its all-natural running rate.”

Fashion favourites

The Ford Fiesta was very easily the most well-known vehicle both in September and over the entire year to date, the SMMT figures show.

Ford also grabbed the quantity 2 spot in each with the larger Focus, behind which came the Volkswagen Golf and Vauxhall Corsa vying for third and 4th position.

In September, it was the Golf in third spot. But over the year so far, the Corsa pushes the Golf back into 4th position.

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Sharpened concentrate

This is a different picture to 10 years ago, when the Concentrate was the greatest seller – holding the leading spot from 1999 proper the way by means of to 2008.

“It indicates a wider trend for individuals swapping larger hatchbacks for superminis,” Hawes stated.

Colour scheming

Our colour of selection has also changed more than the last decade.

In 2004, silver and blue have been the most well-liked colours for new vehicles. But now, white is at the leading of the colour chart, followed by black and then blue.

Putting the brakes on CO2

The average new automobile registered last month had CO2 emissions of 122.3 g/km and did 59 miles per gallon (mpg).

But back in 2004, the typical car registered had CO2 emissions of 179g/km and managed just 42.4mpg. And even in 2013, typical CO2 emissions have been at 128.3g/km.

Bumper month for car registrations