United Kingdom vehicle sales defy VW scandal as September sales surge

Registrations increased 6 percent from last year as it is traditionally one of the biggest months of the year.

Overall, it was the 43rd consecutive month of growth in the market, while the total number of cars registered in 2015 so far is 2,096,886 – 7.1% higher than at the same point previous year.

SMMT said new auto registrations reached their highest ever September total last month, with 462,517 motors shifted. Diesel and petrol auto sales rose by 4.1% and 12.3% compared with the same month in 2014, and alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) recorded another strong month, with volumes up 21.7% on September 2014’s figure.

In the year to September, diesel sales are up 3.1 per cent, petrol 9.5 per cent and alternatively-fuelled vehicles 48.7 per cent – albeit the last category from a much lower base.

As we’ve become accustomed to, the Ford Fiesta was the best selling auto in the United Kingdom – as it has been all year – followed by the Vauxhall Corsa and Ford Focus, but the fourth and fifth best-sellers were the VW Golf and VW Polo.

On the prospect of confidence falling in the months ahead, Mr Hawes said he anticipated “some levelling off” in sales.

According to SMMT, the automotive industry is a vital part of the United Kingdom economy and accounts for a turnover of over GBP69.5bn turnover and GBP15.5bn value added. More than 70 vehicle models are manufactured by over 30 companies in the United Kingdom, which are supported by around 2,500 component providers and a few of the world’s most skilled engineers.