New car registrations in the UK fell to their lowest level since 1959 as showrooms were shut through the month due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), 51,312 new cars were sold in the UK last month, down by 35.5pc or 28,282 units from February 2020.
February is traditionally a weak month for new car sales in the UK, SMMT noted. However, electric vehicle sales increased by 13pc to 9,854 units during the same period under comparison.
On the other hand, sales of light commercial vehicles increased by 22pc in February on an annual basis, driven by increased demand for large vans. The country registered 17,205 new LCVs in February, with the registration of vans that had a carrying capacity of 2.5-3.5t, up by 30pc from a year ago.