New car sales down in November

07/12/11

By Yamurai Zendera

November saw a drop in the number of new cars sold, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has revealed.

The figure of 134,027 units was down 4.2 per cent on the same period last year.

At the same time, the number of new registrations in the first 11 months of this year was also down on last year's figures. The SMMT revealed that 1,822,065 units were sold between January and November 2011 which was 4.5 per cent down on 2010 figures.

But SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said the results were not all bad news.

Firstly, he said, last month's sales figures were 5,000 units higher than what had been predicted, while he pointed to the fact that the greater fuel efficiency of modern cars is a hugely positive development in the industry.

Mr Everitt said: "While the November new car market saw a 4.2 per cent dip, the fuel efficiency of new models broke all records with the average new car achieving 52.5 miles to the gallon.

"Despite the Chancellor delaying the (January 2012) 3p rise in fuel duty, our cost of fuel is still among the highest in Europe, so customers are sure to welcome the 29.3 per cent improvement in new car fuel efficiency over the last 10 years, a demonstration of industry's commitment to delivering good value to motorists."