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February car sales climb

04/03/2010

The sales of new cars improved in February compared to the same month last year, the latest industry figures reveal.

And the 26.4% increase - to a total of 68,686 units - is positive news ahead of the "key" March market, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Overall, February's growth was mainly driven by private buyers, the group said, but it also pointed to a strengthening business demand.

Meanwhile, sales made under the scrappage scheme accounted for 19.6% of the total, an increase from January's 17.8% - the lowest proportion recorded under the scheme.

Last month the Government announced that scrappage would run until the end of March - a one-month extension on the original deadline - to reflect its success in stimulating sales and stabilising the UK car market during the recession. By the start of March the scheme had accounted for 330,451 sales - virtually all of which were cars rather than small commercial vehicles - since it was confirmed in last April's Budget.

However, SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt renewed the call for affordable credit and urged the Government to defer any rise in vehicle excise duty, and to deliver "a clear and consistent approach to carbon-dioxide (CO2)-based taxation".

"Scrappage has generated eight consecutive months of growth in the new car market and we expect its benefits to stretch beyond the scheme's closure later this month," he added.

"[The] industry continues to face challenging market conditions, but positive trends in the fleet and business sectors suggest that negative impacts can be minimised.

"Strengthening business and consumer confidence remains [the] industry's priority."

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