UK Continues to Beat European Market in Auto Sales

The United Kingdom continues to beat the trend of falling European auto sales. April auto sales were up 15% over last year, and it was the highest April sales since 2008. The UK Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) predicts that 2013 sales will be even stronger than originally forecasted.

April was the 14th consecutive month of increased auto sales in the UK. There were 163,357 cars sold there in April. 

The SMMT has adjusted its annual sales forecast to 2.106 million cars sold in the UK in 2013, up from its January estimate of 2.057 million sales in 2013. 

There are questions whether these sales are sustainable. The UK economy has been dipping in and out of recession in the past months. Unemployment and inflation are also rising

The SMMT believes that part of the reason for the high sales is the rising fuel prices in the UK. Buyers are purchasing more fuel-efficient cars in hopes it will reduce their fuel costs. The three best-selling cars in April were the Ford FocusFord Ford Focus (UK) Gen.3United Kingdom, 2011 > present207 versions
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, Vauxhall CorsaVauxhall Corsa Gen.4United Kingdom, 2006 > present86 versions
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and Ford FiestaFord Fiesta Gen.6United States of America, 2008 > 2017204 versions
299 photos
.

Source: Automotive News Europe