REGISTRATIONS of new cars rose by 11.6% year-on-year to 173,160 units last month. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders figures revealed this week show year to date registrations have risen 5.2%to 1.44 million units.

Growing confidence among new cars buyers has prompted the SMMT to increase its prediction for new car sales this year to 2.3 million units, compared to a forecast of 2.25 million earlier this year.

Fleet demand rose by 6.9% in July, but overall remains 3.9% down on the same period last year, at 614,169.