Commenting on the latest car registration figures from The Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT), Justin Benson, UK head of automotive at KPMG, said:

 

“Given the strong performance in August – when consumers took advantage of the deals available ahead of the changes to the new registration plates – it is unsurprising that September would realise a fall in growth. While a fall of -20.5% in September may paint a rather bleak picture at first glance, year-to-date the numbers are still holding up against previous record years.

 

“Cars are a big ticket purchase, so any confusion around what type of car to buy will impede growth in sales, and the downbeat messaging from automakers regarding Brexit will inevitably have made consumers think twice before driving off the forecourt. Meanwhile, the new emission testing regime may have proved a bottleneck this month, but in the long run it will really help consumers decide which car is best for them and the environment.”

-Ends-

 

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About KPMG in the UK

KPMG LLP, a UK limited liability partnership, operates from 22 offices across the UK with approximately 14,500 partners and staff.  The UK firm recorded a revenue of £2.2 billion in the year ended 30 September 2017. KPMG is a global network of professional firms providing Audit, Tax, and Advisory services. It operates in 154 countries and territories and has 200,000 people working in member firms around the world. The independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"), a Swiss entity.  Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such.