The Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders has announced a 10.6% rise in new car registrations, the best half-year total since 2005.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said, "Improving economic conditions have helped propel the UK new car market to a strong first half-year performance, with registrations up 10.6% on the same period in 2013.

"Key to attracting consumers is the ever-improving efficiency of new cars, an important factor that is highlighted by the 51.3% increase in alternatively-fuelled vehicle registrations so far this year. The overall market has risen faster than we were expecting but, after a bumper March, growth is showing signs of stabilising around our forecast level."

Fleet sales are increasing at a level just below the overall rate of growth, with a year-to-date 8.4% rise - an increase of nearly 47,000 vehicles.

The Ford Fiesta continued to top the sales charts in June, with 11,213 registrations.

Increased efficiency has brought lower emissions - average UK new car CO₂ output has reduced 6.5% between Q1 2012 (134.6g/km) and Q2 2014 (125.8g/km).

Electric vehicle registrations have increased by 143.9% in the first six months of 2014.