Car Sales Reach Record High in U.K.

Car sales in the U.K. climbed 6% to a record 2.63 million units in 2015, helped by an 8% jump to a record 180,100 units in December, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reports.

The previous sales high was in 2003, when deliveries reached 2.58 million units. Last year’s total marked the fourth time the British auto market topped 2.5 million units.

Results for 2015 capped nearly four years of steady year-on-year gains. The U.K.’s five best-selling models last year were the Ford Fiesta (133,400 units), Vauxhall Corsa (92,100), Ford Focus (83,800), Volkswagen Golf (73,400) and Nissan Qashqai (60,800).

SMMT predicts the British market will “hold broadly steady” in 2016 but is not likely to surpass last year’s volume.