Sales of new cars hit the skids in March

New car sales fell by nearly 8% in March – traditionally the motor trade’s biggest month to sell a car.

The new 11-plate helped dealers shift 366,101 vehicles last month according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ which was 7.9% down on March 2010.

In all, registrations in the first three months of the year were down 8.7% compared with the first quarter of 2010, at 558,336.

New car registrations have now declined in each of the last nine months, but the trade body claimed sales would have been up if you strip out sales from last year’s car scrappage scheme.

Chief executive Paul Everitt said: “motorists are buying more fuel-efficient and low emitting vehicles”, with new cars registered in the first quarter averaging record low emissions at 140.3g per km.

US car makers were the big losers, with Cadillac and fuel-thirsty firm Hummer not selling a single vehicle here last month.

Nissan was one of the big winners, with sales up 14%.

Individually, the Ford Fiesta was the best-selling car in the month, followed by the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Corsa.