The Scottish car market got off to a bad start in 2011. Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show new car sales in Scotland were down 13% last month, with 9694 new registrations compared to 11,135 in January 2010.
In Tayside, new car sales fell from 814 to 633, a drop of 22%, and Fife saw sales decline 20.5% to 576. The Grampian region fell by 11%, with 918 new cars sold.
Head of the Scottish Motor Trade Association Douglas Robertson said, “While there is always some disappointment at a decrease, these figures are not unexpected.
“We have predicted a downturn in the first half of 2011 and, given the weather conditions for much of the month of January, the decrease does not surprise us.
“It also has to be remembered that consumers are currently lacking in confidence and we are looking for the chancellor to give a boost to the industry by withdrawing the proposed fuel duty increases in his March Budget.”
