NEW car sales in March – the month when number plates change – reached a better than expected UK total of 451,642, it was announced yesterday.
Sales were 0.5 per cent up on March 2007, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.
And consumers showed their "green" credentials by snapping up superminis and diesel cars. New registrations of superminis rose 4.3 per cent
to take more than a third of the total market, while diesel sales were up 7.7 per cent and alternatively-fuelled car sales rose 14.7 per cent.
Paul Everitt, the chief executive of the SMMT, said: "This year has proved to be better than anticipated. We expect 2008 to be a challenging year, but registrations to date are in line with industry forecasts.
"The latest figures demonstrate the progress made by the industry in delivering lower-carbon cars and the wide range of opportunities there are for consumers to save money and reduce their carbon footprint."
The organisation had feared that consumer belt-tightening would lead to a dip in March sales this year to about 425,000.
Last month's figure means that sales for the year so far have reached more than 683,000 and are only 0.7 per cent down on the January-March 2007 total.
Private purchases did fall slightly last month, dipping 1.4 per cent compared with the March 2007 figure, but volume sales were well above expected levels.
Superminis occupied five places in the top ten best-sellers list last month, with the Ford Focus regaining top spot and the Ford Fiesta coming second. Vauxhall took the next two places, with the Corsa and Astra, ahead of the Peugeot 207.
