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| UK car sales 30.5% lower in March | UK car sales 30.5% lower in March |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| UK car sales fell by 30.5% in March, compared with the same month last year, the latest industry figures have shown. | UK car sales fell by 30.5% in March, compared with the same month last year, the latest industry figures have shown. |
| The number of new UK registrations in March was 313,912, down from 451,642 the year before, said the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). | The number of new UK registrations in March was 313,912, down from 451,642 the year before, said the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). |
| The SMMT said the drop was particularly disappointing, given that March is when new car registrations come out. | The SMMT said the drop was particularly disappointing, given that March is when new car registrations come out. |
| The government needs to do more to boost confidence, SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said. | The government needs to do more to boost confidence, SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said. |
| Scrappage schemes | Scrappage schemes |
| He repeated his call for a car scrappage scheme, in which motorists would be paid for trading in their old cars and buying new ones. | He repeated his call for a car scrappage scheme, in which motorists would be paid for trading in their old cars and buying new ones. |
| Car showroom forced to change tack | Car showroom forced to change tack |
| "[It] will provide the incentive needed and the evidence is clear that schemes already implemented across Europe do work to increase demand," he said. | "[It] will provide the incentive needed and the evidence is clear that schemes already implemented across Europe do work to increase demand," he said. |
| "The UK is the only major European market not to implement a scheme." | "The UK is the only major European market not to implement a scheme." |
| Scrappage incentives introduced elsewhere in Europe have boosted sales. | Scrappage incentives introduced elsewhere in Europe have boosted sales. |
| While sales have been falling in the UK, new car registrations in Germany rose 40% in March and in France increased by almost 10%. Both countries have recently adopted scrappage schemes. | While sales have been falling in the UK, new car registrations in Germany rose 40% in March and in France increased by almost 10%. Both countries have recently adopted scrappage schemes. |
| However, the UK government has so far rejected the idea, saying it was not sure that it would offer value for money. | However, the UK government has so far rejected the idea, saying it was not sure that it would offer value for money. |
| The figures came on the day that MOT charges increased, from £53.10 to £54.00 for cars. | The figures came on the day that MOT charges increased, from £53.10 to £54.00 for cars. |
| The cost of a replacement driving licence, compulsory every 10 years, increased from £17.50 to £20. | The cost of a replacement driving licence, compulsory every 10 years, increased from £17.50 to £20. |
| Change in tack | Change in tack |
| Some car dealers say they have been forced to change tack and focus more on the used car market. | Some car dealers say they have been forced to change tack and focus more on the used car market. |
| Richard Peace, who manages a car dealership in Staffordshire, says out of the 1,000 cars that they carry, only about 50 of them are new. | Richard Peace, who manages a car dealership in Staffordshire, says out of the 1,000 cars that they carry, only about 50 of them are new. |
| People are looking for value for money and a car that will suit their needs, he says. | People are looking for value for money and a car that will suit their needs, he says. |
| "If they've got a particular vehicle that they want to purchase, they'll actually go down a couple of plates to buy that car." | "If they've got a particular vehicle that they want to purchase, they'll actually go down a couple of plates to buy that car." |
| Key month | Key month |
| The motor industry has been suffering from the economic slowdown and a global slump in demand. | The motor industry has been suffering from the economic slowdown and a global slump in demand. |
| The March market highlights the scale of the slowdown, the SMMT said. | The March market highlights the scale of the slowdown, the SMMT said. |
| In the 10 years since the switch to the twice-yearly plate change, March has typically accounted for 17.9% of annual registrations. | In the 10 years since the switch to the twice-yearly plate change, March has typically accounted for 17.9% of annual registrations. |
| Sales for March fell 4.9% more than the SMMT expected, taking the total number of sales for the last 12 months to 1.93 million units. | Sales for March fell 4.9% more than the SMMT expected, taking the total number of sales for the last 12 months to 1.93 million units. |
| The SMMT now believes volumes could slide below 1.7m for the whole of 2009. | The SMMT now believes volumes could slide below 1.7m for the whole of 2009. |
| Rise in 'minis' | Rise in 'minis' |
| A total of 480,358 cars were sold in the first three months of the year, down from 683,349 in the same period of 2008. | A total of 480,358 cars were sold in the first three months of the year, down from 683,349 in the same period of 2008. |
| Sales of new cars fell in all sectors with the exception of the smallest cars, known as the mini segment. | Sales of new cars fell in all sectors with the exception of the smallest cars, known as the mini segment. |
| Sales of the smallest cars rose 84% in March, following the arrival of new models over the last 12 months. | Sales of the smallest cars rose 84% in March, following the arrival of new models over the last 12 months. |
| The Ford Fiesta was the best-selling car for the fifth month in a row. | The Ford Fiesta was the best-selling car for the fifth month in a row. |
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