New car registrations rose 6.2% in June to 228,291 units.

In the first half of the year registrations rose 10.6% to 1,287,265 units, the best half-year total since 2005, according to the SMMT.

The market was driven by attractive finance and PCP deals as carmakers targeted the UK for sales to compensate for weak markets in Europe, which are recovering but from a very low base.

The UK market is now on track for 2.4 million new car registrations in 2014, up more than 6% on last year.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Improving economic conditions have helped propel the UK new car market to a strong first half-year performance, with registrations up 10.6% on the same period in 2013.

“Key to attracting consumers is the ever-improving efficiency of new cars, an important factor that is highlighted by the 51.3% increase in alternatively-fuelled vehicle registrations so far this year.

“The overall market has risen faster than we were expecting but, after a bumper March, growth is showing signs of stabilising around our forecast level.”

Paul Brotherton, head of business strategy at finance provider Black Horse: “Manufacturers continue to offer competitive finance deals that make owning a new car affordable.

“Whilst interest rates remain low consumers feel confident to make more expensive purchases as their spending power improves and they feel they have more certainty about the economy.”

Original Story Taken from Motor Trader News – http://www.motortrader.com/automotive-news/car-registrations-rise-6-2-june/