According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) on April 5, UK car sales increased 8.4% to 562,337 units in March 2017, setting a new monthly record.
Likewise, UK sales of 820,016 units in the first three months of 2017 set a new quarterly record.
The reason, in part, for the high numbers in March was that consumers and businesses brought their purchases forward to avoid new VED charges in place as of April 1, 2017.
March sales for Ford increased 19.0% to 71,837 units (12.8% market share) and Volkswagen sales increased 2.0% to 39,485 units (7.0% share), while GM Vauxhall sales decreased 10.3% to 46,564 units (8.3% share).
BMW sales in March increased 7.4% to 34,873 units (6.2% share) and Mercedes-Benz sales increased 18.0% to 35,690 units (6.3% share).
Of the five most popular vehicles in March, 25,428 Ford Fiestas; 17,119 Ford Focuses; 16,045 Vauxhall Corsas; 13,732 Nissan Qashqais; and 11,680 Vauxhall Astras were sold.
Compared to last March, diesel-engine car sales increased by 1.6% to 244,263 units (43.4% share), gasoline-engine car sales increased 13.2% to 295,256 units (52.5% share), and alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) sales increased 31.0% to 22,818 units (4.1% share).
In March, private car sales increased 4.4% to 273,751 units (48.7% share), fleet sales increased 12.5% to 261,930 units (46.6% share), and sales to businesses increased 11.9% to 26,656 units (4.7% share).
Light commercial vehicles (LCV) sales of 63,316 units in March 2017 represented a 0.9% decrease from March 2016 sales.
Sales of commercial vehicles between 2.5 and 3.5 tons increased 3.6% this March to 40,237 units.
Sales of commercial vehicles larger than 3.5 tons increased 1.9% to 1,093 units in March.

(SMMT press releases from April 5, 2017) 1 / 2