‘Return to form’ for car retailers

July was the first month since the lockdown all dealerships across the UK were able to stay open through the whole month, a fact that is reflected by the uptick in car sales, Sue Robinson, director of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), said.

She added: “It is positive that in addition to the encouraging trend in the used car market, new car sales have also returned to form. We must however continue to monitor the health of consumer demand to understand the support our sector may need over the coming months.

“It is encouraging to see continued growth in the battery electric vehicle sector which shows consumers have an appetite for these vehicles.

“August is traditionally a quiet month, however as commuters continue to look for alternatives to avoid public transport, automotive retailers can benefit from the increasing interest from consumers to buy a car.”