• 324,991 new cars were registered through the scrappage scheme by the end of February.

• Scrappage accounted for 19.6% of all new car registrations in February.

• LCV registrations total 5,460 units between May to February, 3.8% of the total LCV market.

• Average CO2 emissions of a car bought through the scheme were 132.7g/km, 9.9% below the overall new car market average and 27.0% below a scrapped car’s figure.

Commenting on the data, SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said, “The scrappage scheme ends this month and has provided a vital stimulus during a difficult period. The scheme has lifted the market from the lows of early 2009, with around 330,000 registrations by the end of February.Industry must now work to sustain this momentum and is urging government to postpone the introduction of the first year rate of VED and avoid dampening demand while the economic recovery remains fragile.”

The scrappage scheme accounted for 19.6% of all new car registrations in February (LCV 4.5%), on par with the 20.4% share taken over the May 2009 to February period (LCV volumes 3.8%).

Average CO2 emissions (g/km), May 2009 to February 2010

Average CO2 emissions, g/km
New cars registered through the scheme had an average CO2 value of 132.7g/km. This was 9.9% lower than the 147.3g/km average for all new cars registered between May 2009 and February 2010, and 27.0% below the average CO2 of the scrapped car. The average CO2 emissions of an old car scrapped through the scheme is estimated to be 181.8g/km (based on weighted segment data for 1997 vintage cars, with the average age of scrapped cars being 12.7 years).

SIS registrations by segment
Over the May to February period 73.0% of all cars registered through the scheme were from the mini and supermini segments. These two segments accounted for 42.0% of all cars registered over the same period.

Share of SIS registrations, total new car market and scrapped cars by segment

SIS registrations by sales type
The following chart shows that private buyers registered 98.4% of all the cars through the scheme over the May to February period.

New car registrations by sales type, May 2009 to February 2010

SIS registrations by fuel type
Petrol cars accounted for 84.4% of cars bought through the scrappage scheme over the May to February period, compared with 58.4% in the overall market.

New car registrations by fuel type, May 2009 to February 2010