Car sales plunge in Britain as sector crashes globally
Sales of new cars in Britain fell almost a third last month, official figures showed Monday, in the latest sign of how the economic crisis is hammering the auto sector worldwide.
Industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said 313,912 new cars were registered in March, down 30.5 percent from last year. It was the 11th consecutive month of falls.
March is a key month for Britain's auto industry as that is when vehicles carrying the new year's registration plates first go on sale. Showrooms were hoping for a surge of buyers snapping up cars carrying an "09" plate in March.
"March new car registrations are a barometer of confidence in the economy, from businesses and consumers alike," SMMT chief Paul Everitt said in a statement.
"The fall in the market shows that the government needs to do more to boost confidence."
The news is the latest reminder of the problems facing the car industry worldwide.
In the US, General Motors -- which is living off government loans -- has acknowledged it may go bankrupt, while another historic marque, Chrysler, has also taken emergency state aid amid plunging sales.
Car sales in Japan hit a 38-year low in 2008, the industry said last week.
There have been job cuts in Britain -- Nissan axed 1,200 at its main British site in January -- while other firms like Jaguar Land Rover have introduced shorter hours and pay freezes.
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