New car sales go up a gear

Flagging new car sales staged a recovery last month – driven in part by the sunny weather.

The number of new motors sold was 3.4% up year on year, said the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. However, the growth was against an 8.5% slump in May last year, fuelled by buyer caution ahead of the general election.

Company car sales fell last month but demand from private buyers was up, with the hottest May on record adding to a near-12% surge in convertibles bought.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said, “May’s growth, albeit on the back of large declines last year, is encouraging and suggests the market is now starting to return to a more natural running rate.”