September sales rise thanks to scrappage

‘Car sales figures confirm the third consecutive monthly increase in registrations, largely due to the vehicle scrappage scheme. The Government’s response to RMI pressure to extend the scheme is stimulating the motor industry as a whole,' says Sue Robinson, Director of the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI), representing the UK’s new car dealers, commenting on new car sales figures for September 2009.

New car sales for September 2009, announced today (Tuesday 6 October 2009) show that new cars sold in September 2009 were 11.4 per cent up on September 2008.

According to Robinson, the scrappage scheme is having a positive effect on the whole market: ‘Car dealers are reporting that the scheme is continuing to provide a halo effect for overall car sales, and is helping increase footfall into showrooms by general buyers as well as scrappage buyers.’

Latest Government figures show that 238,671 cars and light vans have been ordered through the scrappage scheme since it went live on 18 May 2009. With sales continuing to grow and the scheme starting to come to an end, the Government’s injection of a further £100m funding for the scheme could not have come at a better time. The extension which the RMI campaigned for is essential to ensure the retail motor industry continues to thrive at a time of economic uncertainty.

Robinson adds: ‘The scheme has been highly successful, and with an extension in place, we expect demand to continue for the latter part of the year.’