THE United Kingdom car market looks set for record sales this year after the industry reported its 11th consecutive month of increased business.
Latest figures for August published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that UK sales are up by 5.2% to more than 1.5 million so far in 2001. This figure was boosted by a 6.2% rise in August sales to 77,246 vehicles and the traditional busy month of September could produce sales of more than 400,000 cars.
An SMMT spokesman said: ``75,000 more new cars have been registered (in the UK) so far this year compared to the same period of 2000. August accounts for just three per cent of total annual sales. The September tally, which makes up 18% of the annual market, will be key to the overall market performance in 2001. Current trends point to a market of well over 400,000 units in September - a record high which could boost full-year sales beyond 2.3 million units, to make 2001 a record year.''
Earlier this year, the SMMT predicted 2001 sales totalling 2.3 million, which is a 3.5% rise over last year. The present annual UK sales record of 2.3 million new cars was set in 1989 and many analysts now believe this will be topped this year. The figures show that diesel car sales have soared this year. With a 23.9% growth in this sector over the first eight months of the year, the diesel car market share has risen to 16.4% or just under 250,000 vehicles, the highest since 1997.
Sales to private buyers are also growing at an increasing rate and in the first eight months of this year were up by 18.7%. A spokesman explained: ``The private sector continues to be buoyed by tough competition, strong finance packages and enticing new models.''
The Ford Focus continues to dominate sales and it headed the best sellers' league for the 16th month in a row in August. Its UK sales so far this year have topped the 87,000 mark, easily beating the Vauxhall Astra, which was second top seller with more than 63,000 sales. Next came the Peugeot 206 (62,790 sales), followed by the Ford Fiesta (59,400), Ford Mondeo (57,898), Vauxhall Corsa (55,888), Renault Megane (48,102), Renault Clio (46,410), VW Golf (41,861) and Citroen Xsara with 41,799 sales.
The SMMT has also reported a 30% increase in UK car production in August. The month's output totalled 97,164 compared with 74,761 in the same month of last year. More than half of the output this year was shipped for export to other countries. SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan said: ``The latest figures show car production beginning to return to 1999 levels after a long period of restructuring at many UK car plants. A raft of new British-built cars is starting to push output back up although this spectacular rise needs to be seen in the context of a traditionally weak month for car manufacturing.''
Ford of Britain's sales successes have also had an impact on university graduates seeking a career in engineering. The UK Graduate Careers Survey for 2001, which gathered data from 14,000 final-year students in all disciplines at 30 universities, found that Ford is the top choice.
As well as topping the engineering sector, Ford was 18th in the list of the top 100 companies for all sectors, which is the highest position for any company in the engineering/manufacturing sector. Ford of Britain expects to recruit 200 graduate level engineers this year.