August saw the British car market achieve a 23.1 per cent year-on-year increase in sales, according to the latest figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
More than 94,000 units were sold last month, with the SMMT putting this drastic increase down to brands wanting to offload older stock before the new WLTP emissions regulations were fully introduced on September 1.
With the new guidelines enforced earlier this month, manufacturers offered vehicles at lower prices to generate sales – in a month which is usually quite slow.
People after electrified options also increased, with one in 12 sales either hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric – a record for the model type. Electrified vehicles now account for eight per cent of the market.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “It’s great to see such strong growth, particularly in the important electric vehicle market. However, given August is always a small month in new car registrations ahead of the important plate-change month of September, it would be wrong to view the market as booming.
“Indeed, this past month has seen some significant variances as regulatory changes have disrupted some supplies. In the long term, however, the new emissions certification test will give consumers renewed confidence in the performance of all vehicles, helping them choose the latest, cleanest technology that best suits their driving needs, whether that be petrol, diesel, hybrid or plug-in.”
Superminis continues to be the most popular segment, with small family and dual purpose models in second and third respectively. Luxury saloons and city cars saw the largest spike in interest, with growth recorded at 120.8 per cent and 39.6 per cent respectively.
The Ford Fiesta led the way in overall sales with 4,552 units, while the Volkswagen Golf was close behind on 4,180 sales. The German brand’s Polo was the third most popular vehicle last month with 3,207.
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