New car sales fall by 30%

New car registrations fell by 30.5% in March, to 313,912 units, according to latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Further, in the first three months of the year the number had fallen by 29.7%, or by over 200,000 units. However, diesel and small cars saw market share improve during March.

The Ford Fiesta was the best selling model for a fifth successive month in March.

Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive says the fall in the market shows that the Government needs to do more to boost confidence.

“A scrappage scheme will provide the incentive needed and the evidence is clear that schemes already implemented across Europe do work to increase demand. The UK is the only major European market not to implement a scheme,” he says.

Hopes of a recovery are now being pinned on the Chancellor, Alistair Darling, announcing measures to aid the embattled automotive industry in the Budget later this month.