Finance & Leasing Association7 June 2021
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that the consumer car finance market reported growth in new business volumes of 1276% in April 2021 compared with the same month in 2020. In the first four months of 2021, new business volumes were 13% higher than in the same period in 2020.
The consumer new car finance market reported new business volumes up by 2195% in April compared with the same month in 2020, while the value of new business grew by 2370%. In the first four months of 2021, new business volumes in this market were 8% higher than in the same period in 2020. The percentage of private new car sales financed by FLA members in the twelve months to April 2021 held relatively steady at 93.0%.
The consumer used car finance market reported new business volumes up by 1061% in April compared with the same month in 2020, while the value of new business grew by 1204%. In the first four months of 2021, new business volumes in this market were 17% higher than in the same period in 2020.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Director of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“The consumer car finance market received a boost in April as showrooms re-opened, with the significant growth rate also reflecting the all-time low level of new business recorded in April 2020 at the start of the first lockdown.
“Pent-up demand and an improvement in consumer confidence are expected to contribute to a strong recovery during the second half of 2021, with our latest research suggesting that consumer car finance new business by value will grow by 19% in 2021 as a whole, and by a further 13% in 2022.”
| Table 1: Cars bought on finance by consumers through the point of sale |
||||||
| New business |
Apr 2021 |
% change on prev. year |
3 months to Apr 2021 |
% change on prev. year |
12 months to Apr 2021 |
% change on prev. year |
| New cars |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Value of advances (£m) |
1,382 |
2370 |
4,758 |
38 |
16,444 |
-4 |
| Number of cars |
58,195 |
2195 |
198,583 |
24 |
713,424 |
-11 |
| Used cars |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Value of advances (£m) |
1,680 |
1204 |
4,580 |
53 |
17,172 |
3 |
| Number of cars |
125,821 |
1061 |
342,599 |
45 |
1,299,494 |
-3 |
| Total cars |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Value of advances (£m) |
3,061 |
1557 |
9,338 |
45 |
33,615 |
-1 |
| Number of cars |
184,016 |
1276 |
541,182 |
37 |
2,012,918 |
-6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Table 2: Cars bought on finance by businesses |
||||||
| New business |
Apr 2021 |
% change on prev. year |
3 months to Apr 2021 |
% change on prev. year |
12 months to Apr 2021 |
% change on prev. year |
| New cars |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Number of cars |
31,032 |
147 |
82,280 |
27 |
276,691 |
-25 |
| Used cars |
||||||
| Number of cars |
5,355 |
-38 |
13,402 |
-21 |
52,246 |
-11 |
Note to editors:
1. Consumer motor finance reported in these figures refers to finance obtained through the point of sale.
2. In 2020, FLA members provided £113 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £86 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit, over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK in 2020. £39 billion of it supported the purchase of new and used cars, including over 93% of private new car registrations
3. For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.
