U.K. Car Sales Hit 10-Year High

New-car registrations in the U.K. rose 9% to 2.48 million units last year, the best result since 2004, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd.

December sales totaled 166,200 units compared with 152,900 in the same month in 2013.

Diesels accounted for slightly more than half the total sales last year. Retail sales to individual buyers grew 10% to 1.18 million. Fleet sales rose 9%, also to 1.18 million units. Sales to businesses climbed 12% to 118,500.

SMMT predicts lower growth in the U.K. this year as post-recession demand levels off.