Consumer car finance new business volumes up by 1% in August

9 October 2020

New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that new business in the consumer car finance market grew 1% by volume and 8% by value in August 2020 compared with the same month in 2019.  In the eight months to August 2020, new business volumes in this market fell by 26% compared with the same period in 2019.

 The consumer used car finance market reported growth in new business of 2% by volume and 10% by value in August 2020 compared with the same month in 2019. In the eight months to August 2020, new business volumes in this market fell by 22% compared with the same period in 2019.

 The consumer new car finance market reported new business volumes 1% lower in August than in the same month in 2019, while the value of new business grew by 5% over the same period.  In the eight months to August 2020, new business volumes in this market fell by 33% compared with the same period a year earlier. The percentage of private new car sales financed by FLA members in the twelve months to August 2020 held steady at 93.5%.

 Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:

 “It is encouraging to see further growth in the consumer car finance market, which shows the underlying strength of the market despite the disruption caused by the Covid-19 crisis.

 “However, the near-term outlook for demand and employment is highly uncertain as new restrictions are imposed to deal with the ongoing crisis. It is more vital than ever that the Government and Bank of England support all lenders, including non-banks, by removing obstacles that still exist around access to funding.  This will ensure that the motor finance industry is able to meet the ongoing demand for forbearance and new credit.”

Table 1: Cars bought on finance by consumers through the point of sale

New business

Aug 2020

% change on prev. year

3 months to Aug 2020

% change on prev. year

12 months to Aug 2020

% change on prev. year

New cars

 

 

 

 

 

 

Value of advances (£m)

1,042

5

4,160

2

15,872

-18

Number of cars

49,514

-1

188,954

-5

727,308

-23

Used cars

 

 

 

 

 

 

Value of advances (£m)

1,672

10

5,222

13

16,089

-11

Number of cars

128,126

2

396,581

5

1,258,462

-15

Total cars

           

Value of advances (£m)

2,714

8

9,382

8

31,961

-15

Number of cars

177,640

1

585,535

1

1,985,770

-18

 

Table 2: Cars bought on finance by businesses

New business

Aug 2020

% change on prev. year

3 months to Aug 2020

% change on prev. year

12 months to Aug 2020

% change on prev. year

New cars

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of cars

18,549

-28

54,171

-51

279,422

-36

Used cars

           

Number of cars

3,729

-22

12,595

-13

55,222

-7

 Note to editors:

  1. Consumer motor finance reported in these figures refers to finance obtained through the point of sale.
  2. In 2019, FLA members provided £140 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £105 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit, over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK in 2019. £48 billion of it supported the purchase of new and used cars, including over 91% of private new car registrations.
  3. For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

 

 

 

 

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