Bonus schemes push up pre-registrations

Latest figures published by the SMMT indicate that 150 new cars were pre-registered by manufacturers in April, bringing the total for the year to April to 670 units, with a value of £6,873,208. Peugeot headed the list with 58 pre-registrations in April, and 269 for the first four months ahead of Honda on 95 units. However the figures appear to mask the true level of pre-registations in the industry.

Alan Pulham of the NFDA says: “Manufacturers are offering such attractive month-end bonuses that, for many dealers, it would be daft not to register some cars to meet their bonus programmes.

“There is no evidence to me that there are large numbers of pre-registered cars waiting to go somewhere. The interesting thing is how different manufacturers are reacting. Some are sticking to the spirit of the New Cars Order, and saying to dealers that if you pre-register, you must not sell them for three months. Others now are clearly saying to dealers, if you want an extra £1,000 on these cars you can have it and you can sell them– we are not looking.”