Car sales rose 9.3% in July – the fifth monthly increase in a row – as the British automotive market posted its strongest performance this year.
There were 143,884 new car registrations last month, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), with premium marques including Bentley and Porsche showing a spike in sales. Bentley sales grew by more than a quarter – albeit to a modest-looking 118 – while Porsche shifted 702 vehicles, a rise of 41% on the same month last year, while the bigger-selling premium makes also did well – as Audi sales grew by 13% to more than 9,000 cars.
Overall, the Ford Fiesta was the top-selling individual car. The Fiesta sold 7,533 units, followed by the Vauxhall Corsa, the Vauxhall Astra and the Ford Focus. The Ford Fiesta is also the bestselling car this year so far.
However, the SMMT said the strong start to the year would not be maintained in the latter half of 2012, in keeping with the weak performance of the UK economy. The SMMT is predicting 1.97m sales this year, slightly higher than the 1.94m vehicles purchased last year.
"New car registrations rose 9.3% in July [compared with July 2011], continuing the upward trend seen during recent months. SMMT's full-year forecast is for 1.97m cars to be registered during 2012, suggesting a slight slowing of demand in the second half of the year," said Paul Everitt, SMMT's chief executive. "International economic stability remains a concern for vehicle manufacturers and the UK market, but intense competition and new fuel-efficient products are creating great opportunities for motorists."
The predicted 2012 figures at least represent a stabilising of the market compared with last year, when the 1.94m figure represented the lowest sales since 1994. At the time the SMMT said the numbers did not represent the state of UK car manufacturing, which is expected to rise by 5% this year amid strong overseas demand for British vehicles such as the Mini and the Range Rover. About eight out of 10 cars built in the UK are exported.
