Private new car sales remained robust in July despite economic headwinds says The Car Expert following the publication of the latest market data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers (SMMT).
While retail sales have held up relatively well throughout the year, the interest rate hike announced today jumping to 1.75% is likely to impact the cost of car finance deals.
The data reveals that homegrown vehicles are proving popular, with the top two best selling vehicles, Nissan Qashqai and Mini hatch, built in Sunderland and Oxford respectively.
Strong results for British brands in July also saw Land Rover and MG log impressive figures, with year-to-date sales data showing 49% and 28% improvements respectively compared to the same month last year.
The challenging economic environment and withdrawal of the plug-in grant have not dented demand for electric vehicles, after recording a 50% year-to-date improvement compared to 2021.
However, sales of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) are suffering as buyers embrace fully electric vehicles or stick with more familiar internal combustion engine models. Registrations for PHEVs are down 15% so far this year compared to 2021.
Stuart Masson, Editorial Director at The Car Expert, the UK’s most comprehensive automotive consumer advice site, said: “We’ve seen a solid enough year so far in terms of retail sales; it is a brighter picture than some might suggest despite the fleet market taking a bit of a hit this year as car companies focus on private sales.
“It is great to see British built vehicles performing so well. Whether this is a patriotic impulse or just a coincidence is hard to say, but elsewhere British brands are doing well too, with both MG and Land Rover recording excellent results in July.
It is also interesting to note that the trend for smaller, cheaper and greener cars generally is still very much present. We expect this shift will continue while consumers have to tighten their belts. This pattern could be exacerbated by the news of today’s interest rate hike, forcing buyers to choose more affordable options as finance deals get pricier.”
The Car Expert provides independent and impartial advice on every aspect of buying, financing, owning, and selling new or used vehicles. For more information, please visit: https://www.thecarexpert.co.uk/
