Good times for the UK auto marketplace

Good times for the UK auto marketplace

Vehicle remarketers Manheim have praised the current state of the automotive market in the UK, saying that sales are currently at the best levels seen for four years.

Sales figures of cars going though the company's auctions have rise by nearly one fifth during the January to April 2013 period. Casting the net wider, the firm looked at other used car wholesalers and dealers, and is saying an increase of around 9% on last year's figures has been seen in sales of used cars during the first quarter of this year.

Growth in the UK auto marketplace has been greater than expected, with both new and used cars in high demand. Conditions currently show the signs of a buyer's market, with good quality vehicles going through the auctions, and a slew of new deals and financial offers available to tempt motorists. However, dealers are also reporting a shortage of decent quality used vehicles coming onto the market, so it is unclear how long this growth can keep up.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) are also supporting these claims somewhat, although figures for the past quarter have yet to be given full publication. They have however released numbers that show private buyers overtaking fleet buyers in the number of new vehicles bought for the very first occasion since 2009, rising by 32% in April alone compared to a year back.

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