Car Sales in U.K. Surge 8%

Deliveries of new cars in the U.K. jumped 8% to 562,300 units in March, more than twice the volume in January-February combined. It was the largest any-month total in at least 20 years, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

SMMT says the surge was driven by buyers scrambling to beat the April 1 onset of more costly vehicle excise duty rates. The new scheme charges a flat rate on all new vehicles, except for those with zero emissions.

Sales also were buoyed by year-on-year registration jumps of 13% for fleets and 12% for business cars. The trade group expects a sales slowdown this month but predicts full-year volume will be only “slightly” below 2016’s total of 8.2 million vehicles.