New car sales down in March

366,101 new 11-plate cars were registered in March, a decline of 7.9% on 2010, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

March bettered expectations, up 5.9% on 2010 with scrappage volumes excluded.

Registrations in quarter one fell 8.7% to 558,336 units. The 2011 market is forecast to drop 5.0% to 1.93 million.

Q1 records lowest ever average new car CO2 emissions, down 3.4% to 140.3g/km.

Fleet and business volumes grew in both March and Q1 demonstrating underlying business confidence that should stabilise the market through 2011.

Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “The UK saw 366,101 new cars registered in March, demonstrating sustained demand in what is traditionally the biggest month of the year.

“Despite a dip versus 2010, the market remains on course to meet SMMT’s forecast for the year with motorists buying increasingly fuel-efficient and low emitting vehicles across every segment.”