The SMMT is anticipating that March registrations could hit a record 450,000, in view of still buoyant demand and a progressive narrowing of the gap between the two peak new car registrations months of September and March since the two-plate system's introduction in 1999.

450,000 new car sales next month would represent an 11.9% increase on March 2003 figures - and continue the growth trend shown in January registrations.