Demand for new cars fell by 97% in April
The new car market suffered its “worst performance in living memory” with a 97% fall in April due to the coronavirus pandemic, the motor industry has said.
Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that only 4,321 new cars were registered last month, some 156,743 fewer than in April 2019.
The coronavirus lockdown has led to car showrooms being closed and many potential customers being housebound.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “With the UK’s showrooms closed for the whole of April, the market’s worst performance in living memory is hardly surprising.
4,321 new cars registered in the month as deliveries continue to frontline workers and organisations.
Latest SMMT outlook expects 1.68 million new car registrations this year, the lowest since 1992.https://t.co/mEtbKWwHPopic.twitter.com/2K6jGSu1MN
— SMMT (@SMMT) May 5, 2020
“These figures, however, still make for exceptionally grim reading, not least for the hundreds of thousands of people whose livelihoods depend on the sector.
“A strong new car market supports a healthy economy and as Britain starts to plan for recovery, we need car retail to be in the vanguard.
“Safely restarting this most critical sector and revitalising what will, inevitably, be subdued demand will be key to unlocking manufacturing and accelerating the UK’s economic regeneration.”
The SMMT is forecasting that around 1.68 million new cars will be registered during the whole of 2020, which would represent a 27% decline on last year.
