UK new car sales hit all-time high in 2015 - SMMT
LONDON, Jan 7 (Reuters) - British new car registrations hit an all-time high last year, an industry body said on Thursday, helped by rising consumer confidence, the strength of the pound and cheap car loans.
Full-year car sales rose 6.3 percent to 2.63 million in 2015, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said, confirming what two sources told Reuters on Wednesday.
Volkswagen (Other OTC: VLKAF - news) , which saw sales across several of its major brands fall in October and November in the aftermath of the diesel emissions cheating scandal, saw full-year sales of its VW-branded cars rise 4 percent last year.
However, sales of its Skoda brand ended the year down 1 percent and Seat finished 11 percent lower after a nearly 50 percent drop in sales in December. (Reporting By Costas Pitas, editing by Andy Bruce)