New car registrations up 57.6% in November

New car registrations were up by 57.6% to 158,082 units in November compared to a weak 2008, but the figures are in line with 2007 volumes.

Year-to-date registrations were down 8.8% at 1,844,063 units, but the SMMT is still predicting a full year market that’s likely to exceed 1.975 million units.

Scrappage accounted for 21.6% of all new car registrations in November.

Business, fleet and private sales increased in the month with private up 141.2%.

Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive, said: "The increase in new car registrations in November reflects the positive impact of the scrappage scheme, customers avoiding the VAT increase in January and the very difficult conditions we experienced a year ago.

"SMMT is urging Government to use its Pre-Budget Report to sustain the recovery and generate business confidence by stimulating demand in key parts of the new vehicle market."