SEPTEMBER new car sales could be up to 80,000 units lower than expected as buyers fail to respond to price cuts and new legislation to reduce self-registration begins to bite. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders claims that September new car sales could total almost 400,000 units - September last year saw 386,999 cars registered - but Glass's Information Services says that X-registration sales got off to a slow start.

It calculates that X-registration car sales after 10 days were about 160,00 units compared with almost 200,000 at the same stage last year. Traditionally month-end figures are double the 10-day tally which would suggest a final September new car sales figure total of 310,000 - 320,000 units.

Adrian Rushmore, Glass's Guide chief car editor, said: 'Cars are still being produced and imported in large numbers, so it remains to be seen how the manufacturers will bring them to market.' Last September Glass's claims that 15 - 25% of sales were self-registrations.