Demand for new cars fell by 39.5% last month compared with January 2020, new figures show.
Just 90,249 new registrations were recorded as showrooms across the country remained shut, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.
It was the automotive industry’s weakest start to a year since 1970.
(PA Graphics)
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “Following a £20.4 billion loss of revenue last year, the auto industry faces a difficult start to 2021.
“The necessary lockdown will challenge society, the economy and our industry’s ability to move quickly towards our ambitious environmental goals.
“Lifting the shutters will secure jobs, stimulate the essential demand that supports our manufacturing and will enable us to forge ahead on the road to zero.
Just 90,249 new cars were sold in the UK last month, an annual decline of 40%
Car showrooms have been closed in England and Scotland since 4 January
Majority of new models have been bought using click and collect services
Electric vehicle sales continue to boom and the Corsa was the overall sales leader in the first month of the year as the Fiesta dropped down the order
UK sales fall 40% in January on lockdown measures
Staff report
Bloomberg
UK new-car registrations slumped to their lowest January level since 1970 as coronavirus lockdown measures shut showrooms, the UK auto industry s trade group, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said in a statement.
Sales fell 40 percent to 90,249 vehicles last month, according to the SMMT.
England, the most populous of the UK s four nations, and the Scottish mainland both became subject to stricter rules on Jan. 5, restricting people s movements and shutting many businesses to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Car showrooms have been forced to close their doors to the public although many dealers are using online, delivery and click-and-collect services to continue to operate.
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Last modified on Thu 4 Feb 2021 10.02 EST
Just over 90,000 new cars were sold in the UK in the slowest January for more than 50 years, according to industry figures released on Thursday.
Sales fell 40% compared with January 2020 to 90,249, as the closure of car showrooms under lockdown compounded the economic gloom.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said the uptake of “click and collect” sales had prevented an even greater fall but could not avert the worst start to a year since 1970.
The SMMT forecasts that 2021 sales will rebound slightly from the depths of 2020, but said the industry would face a very subdued and challenging year, with showroom closures depressing demand and manufacturing output. New car sales fell by 29% last year to 1.63m vehicles, the lowest level since 1992.