April saw a surprise leap of 3.3%,
year-on-year, in new car registrations, according to the
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which has raised
its expectations for total new car sales in 2012.

SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said the
April figures, which included 14.8% growth in private
registrations, year-on-year, demonstrated “raised confidence across
the UK motor industry” and “a steady increase in consumer
confidence”.

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Added to the 1.41% rise in market size since
the start of the year, compared to January to April 2011, the SMMT
has now raised its 2012 forecast to 1,950,000 total unit sales.

The estimation, revised from
the 1,920,000 prediction made toward the start of the year,
means the market would exceed
the 1,940,000 units sold in 2011.

The figure of 142,322 units registered in
April was up from 137,746 units sold in April 2011, but was down
4.35% on
the April 2010 total of 148,793.

Brands shake up sales and market
share

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Small brands fared particularly well in April,
retaining much of their new or re-gathered
attention from March, with Chrysler selling 217 units (compared
to 18 in April 2011, 634 in March), SsangYong selling 69 units
(compared to two in April 2011, 171 in March) and Infiniti selling
103 units (compared to 45 in April 2011, 102 in March).

Ford, the biggest seller of new cars in the
UK, added 12% to unit sales in April, year-on-year, but added only
0.05% to its share of the new car market share from the 14.44%
recorded in March.

Meanwhile, Vauxhall, the second-biggest
selling brand, lost 9.94% in registrations, year-on-year, but
clawed back ground with an April market share of 11.58%, compared
with 10.36% in March.

Similarly, Volkswagen lost 15.86% in sales in
April, year-on-year, but saw its market share rise from 8.25% in
March to 9.35%, retaining its place as the third biggest-selling
marque.

BMW reclaimed fourth place from compatriot
prestige car manufacturer Audi, which was fifth and had beaten BMW
to fourth in both March 2012 and April 2011.

richard.brown@vrlfinancialnews.com