U.K. Car Sales Climbed 5% in 2012

Registrations of new cars in the U.K. rose to a four-year high of 2.04 million units last year compared with 1.94 million units in 2011, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The sales gain in 2012 was the biggest in 10 years.

The year was capped with December's 4% year-on-year increase to 123,600 vehicles.

SMMT predicts Britain's car market will roughly match 2012 levels this year and might grow 2% in 2014.