UK Car Registrations July 2012

(Monday 6 August 2012)

July was the most promising month of the year so far for the motor industry in terms of new car registrations, according to figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

143,884 cars were registered last month, a rise of 9.3% over July 2011. That's the largest gain this year, and the fifth in a row. Inspired by this, the SMMT has raised its forecast for the total 2012 figure to 1.97 million units, the actual figure for 2011 having been 1.94 million.

As has almost invariably been the case for several years now, the most-registered car in the UK last month was the Ford Fiesta, on 7533. Next up are the Vauxhall Corsa and Astra, the Ford Focus, the Volkswagen Golf and the Nissan Qashqai, which is by far the most popular SUV in the country. The same cars make up the top six in the year-to-date table, in the order Fiesta, Corsa, Focus, Golf, Astra and Qashqai.