New car registrations experience longest ever period of growth
May represents the 27th month of year-on-year rises, beating previous record from 1989
New car registrations in the UK have increased for the 27th month running, marking a new record.
A total of 194,032 cars were registered for May, a 7.7 per cent rise on figures from May 2013, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
This latest increase is the 27th month that there's been a year-on-year rise, beating the previous record of 26 months set between May 1987 and June 1989.
The figures for May also mean that registrations for the year have already hit 1,058,974, which represents an 11.6 per cent increase on the same time last year.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: "Over the past 27 months, increasingly-confident consumers have been drawn to some fantastic new products, attracted by innovative technologies, improved fuel economy and competitive deals helping make a new car more affordable.
The Ford Fiesta continues to dominate the best-sellers table, sitting in top spot again for the month. The Volkswagen Golf managed to sneak in to second place, closely followed by the Vauxhall Corsa in third spot.
In the decade from 2004 to 2013, the number of cars registered with alloy wheels as standard jumped from 65 per cent to 87.1 per cent, while air conditioning was standard on 95.4 per cent of cars in 2013 compared to just 75.3% in 2004.
For more details on the best-selling cars in the UK, check out our full car registrations round-up here.
