With car sales rising 2.4% in July, August car sales rose 6% compared with the same month last year. The increase is the second consecutive monthly rise, after more than a year of decline in vehicle sales. Industry figures revealed that 67,006 new cars were registered during August.
The scrappage scheme is widely accepted to have prompted the boost in sales since its introduction in May. However, the scheme is expected to run out of cash by the end of the year. Most buyers have been waiting out for the '59' plate change, which changes this month. September generally yields 5 times as many sales as August. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' (SMMT) chief executive Paul Everitt said: 'The scrappage incentive scheme is having a positive impact, but with consumer and business confidence still fragile, there remain significant risks ahead.
However, the figures from the SMMT also revealed that total sales for the year so far are still 21.5% lower than for the same period last year.
'It is essential that these early signs of recovery are sustained into 2010.'
The top 10 best-selling cars for August were as follows:
1) Ford Focus - 4,366
2) Ford Fiesta - 2,968
3) Hyundai i10 - 2,431
4) Vauxhall Corsa - 2,031
5) Volkswagen Golf - 1,832
6) Peugeot 207 - 1,558
7) BMW 3 Series - 1,482
8) Vauxhall Astra - 1,355
9) Vauxhall Insignia - 1,334
10) Toyota Yaris - 1,331
The worst performers in August were:
The scrappage scheme is widely accepted to have prompted the boost in sales since its introduction in May. However, the scheme is expected to run out of cash by the end of the year. Most buyers have been waiting out for the '59' plate change, which changes this month. September generally yields 5 times as many sales as August. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' (SMMT) chief executive Paul Everitt said: 'The scrappage incentive scheme is having a positive impact, but with consumer and business confidence still fragile, there remain significant risks ahead.
However, the figures from the SMMT also revealed that total sales for the year so far are still 21.5% lower than for the same period last year.
'It is essential that these early signs of recovery are sustained into 2010.'
The top 10 best-selling cars for August were as follows:
1) Ford Focus - 4,366
2) Ford Fiesta - 2,968
3) Hyundai i10 - 2,431
4) Vauxhall Corsa - 2,031
5) Volkswagen Golf - 1,832
6) Peugeot 207 - 1,558
7) BMW 3 Series - 1,482
8) Vauxhall Astra - 1,355
9) Vauxhall Insignia - 1,334
10) Toyota Yaris - 1,331
The worst performers in August were:
1) Saab -91.48%
2) Bentley -75.51%
3) Lotus -58.82%
4) Porsche -43.7%
5) Jeep -36.96%
Germany has ended its scrappage scheme, but is expected to offer tax incentives instead. France will extend it's scrappage scheme until 2011, to avoid plunging car sales. The UK Government has no intention of expanding, despite the fragile state of the car industry. However, pressure from automotive magazines, car manufactures and consumers could see it expanded.