SMMT reports third rise in car sales

New car sales in the UK rose by 11.4 per cent in September, their third consecutive rise, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The organisation said that 367,929 cars were sold in the month, compared to 330,295 in the same period a year earlier.

This rise is expected to be the largest in 2009, making up almost 20 per cent of annual volumes. The market is currently 54,017 units up on the volume recorded in March, which in the previous five years had been the largest monthly market.

The figures showed that registrations from private buyers were up 41.3 per cent. Small cars sales also performed well, with mini volumes up 195 per cent and the supermini segment up 21.2 per cent in the month.

Alternatively fuelled vehicle registrations rose 45.5 per cent throughout September, largely as a result of new models. Average new car CO2 emissions fell 4.9 per cent over the year to date, to 150.2g/km.