Car market grows in April

According to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the UK new car market grew 10.4% in April, with 167,911 new units registered.

The SMMT says that demand was affected by a number of factors, including the timing of Easter, which meant two additional selling days this April, and March’s adverse weather, which pushed some deliveries into April. VED changes that came into force last April, causing a pull forward into March 2017 and a subsequent depressed April market.

Registrations of plug-in and hybrid electric cars were up by 49.3% and now account for 5.6% of the market, thanks to a growing choice of models, says the SMMT.

Demand for petrol cars grew in April, up 38.5%, while diesel registrations continued the recent trend, declining -24.9%.

Despite the significant rise in the month, the overall new car market remains down year to date, with new registrations in the first four months falling -8.8%, year on year, to 886,400 units.

Political and economic uncertainty will continue to affect the market and further instability could cause additional disruption.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: "It’s important not to look at one month in isolation and, given the major disruption to last April’s market caused by sweeping VED changes, this increase is not unexpected.

"While the continuing growth in demand for plug-in and hybrid cars is positive news, the market share of these vehicles remains low and will do little to offset damaging declines elsewhere. Consumers need certainty about future policies towards different fuel types, including diesel, and a compelling package of incentives to deliver long-term confidence in the newest technologies."