New car sales inched up in August, but remain a more than a third down on pre-pandemic levels as the impact of computer chip shortages persists.
Data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders on Monday showed new car registrations rose by 1.2 per cent last month compared with the same period last year.
Almost 69,000 new cars were registered in the first monthly growth since February.
But new registrations so far this year are more than a third down at 35.3 per cent compared with 2019, the society said.
“August’s new car market growth is welcome, but marginal during a low volume month,” said the society’s chief executive Mike Hawes.
“Spiralling energy costs and inflation, on top of sustained supply chain challenges, are piling even more pressure on the automotive industry’s post-pandemic recovery, and we urgently need the new prime minister to tackle these challenges and…
