New registrations at 141,583 vehicles
New car sales in Britain surged by 3,000% in April as car showrooms were reopened to the public, boosting the numbers from the year before when lockdowns decimated car sales.
According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), new registrations came in at 141,583 vehicles, up from only 4,321 in April 2020, which was the lowest level of any single month since February 1946.
Dealerships were open to the public from April 12 in England, in addition to purchases being made by delivery and other online methods.
But last month’s performance was still 13% below the 2010-2019 average, the SMMT said.
“After one of the darkest years in automotive history, there is light at the end of the tunnel,” said SMMT boss Mike Hawes.
“A full recovery for the sector is still some way off, but with showrooms open and consumers able to test drive the latest, cleanest models, the industry can begin to rebuild.”