UK car sales declined by 30.5% in March compared to the corresponding month, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The amount of new registrations in March stood at 313,912, down from 4511642 the year before. These figures are extremely low - in the decade since the switch to the twice-yearly plate change March has typically accounted for almost 18% of annual registrations.
SMT chief executive Paul Everitt has called on the government to provide the industry with more help and to introduce a car scrappage scheme - where motorists are paid for trading in their old cars and buying new ones.
"It will provide the incentive needed and the evidence is clear that schemes already implemented across Europe do work to increase demand. The UK is the only major European market not to implement a scheme," said Mr Everitt.
