New car sales are revving up in Scotland

By SCOTT REID
Published on 08/01/2013 00:00

Scottish car dealers have enjoyed their strongest sales in five years despite an end-of-year blip.

Industry leaders yesterday forecast a “settled” market in 2013 after figures revealed that just under 182,000 new cars were registered last year, a rise of 9 per cent on 2011.

The upturn – marking the highest total since 2007 – came despite a 2 per cent year-on-year fall in sales in December.

Across the UK, more than two million new cars were sold last year, an increase of 5.3 per cent on 2011 and the highest since 2008, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which compiles the data.

The Ford Fiesta has been Britain’s best-selling car since 2009, although the US motor giant’s Focus model topped the list for December alone. In Scotland, last year’s best-seller was the Vauxhall Corsa.

Douglas Robertson, chief executive of the Scottish Motor Trade Association, said: “We are a little disappointed that what has been a good year shows this small decrease at the end.

“Nevertheless, 2012 has seen the highest level of new car registrations in Scotland since 2007 with 181,785 registered.”

SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said the new car market had been driven by innovative, fuel-efficient models.

Richard Lowe, head of retail and wholesale at Barclays, said: “As we look to the year ahead the real question is whether this demand will hold.”

The figures came as Indian-owned carmaker Jaguar Land Rover said its UK sales rose 19.7 per cent in 2012 and product launches meant its outlook for 2013 was “positive”.