NEW registrations in May were a modest 1.7 per cent up on the same month last year.

A total of 147,678 new cars hit UK roads in May. Figures for Scotland were not available at time of writing.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), fleet and business purchases continued to offset a drop in demand from private buyers.

The market share for fully-electric cars rose to 17.6 per cent but still only accounted for 26,031 registrations.

Kia’s Sportage was the UK’s favourite new car in May but the second-placed Ford Puma remains the market leader in the year to date.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said this week: “As Britain prepares for next month’s general election, the new car market continues to hold steady as large fleets sustain growth, offsetting weakened private retail demand.

“Consumers enjoy a plethora of new electric cars and some very attractive offers, but manufacturers can’t sustain this scale of support on their own indefinitely.

"Their success so far should be a signpost for the next government that a faster and fairer transition requires carrots, not just sticks.”

UK top 10 in May: 1, Kia Sportage, 4,202; 2, Ford Puma, 3,812; 3, Audi A3, 3,017; 4, Volkswagen Golf, 2,922; 5, Vauxhall Corsa, 2,671; 6, Volkswagen Polo, 2,669; 7, Nissan Qashqai, 2,637; 8, MG ZS, 2,630; 9, Hyundai Tucson, 2,613; 10, Nissan Juke, 2,468.

Greenock Telegraph:

Figures from SMMT.