Registrations rose for a tenth consecutive month in April, up 15,318 units on the 2009 market. However, volumes were still 15.3 percent or 26,875 units off the April 2008 total. The Scrappage Incentive Scheme accounted for just 8.0 of the April market, as the scheme closed in March, compared with an 18.7 percent average in previous months. SMMT has increased its registration outlook for the full year 2010 market after a stronger than expected start to the year. Manufacturer incentives and renewed market confidence look set to maintain some momentum, but concerns about economic stability over the coming months suggest a 3.6 percent net fall to 1,924 million units for the year. Latest projections expect the market to return to over two million annual registrations by 2012. Growth remains focused in the private sector with demand for vehicles in more fuel-efficient segments remaining strong. Diesel penetration rose for the first time since March 2009, climbing to 45.5 percent in April 2010, compared with 44.7 percent in April 2009.

The Fiat brand posted an impressive month, and was amongst the top volume manufacturers in terms of year-on-year rises: 4,020 vehicles registered last month compared to 2,548 during the same month a year ago was up 57.77 percent year-on-year and meant its market share rose from 1.91 to 2.70 percent. The Fiat 500, previously boosted by a high profile volume supply deal with a driving school, has however vanished from the top-ten best sellers in recent months. Alfa Romeo couldn't continue the success story, it was down 14.87 percent year-on-year with 584 sales last month compared to 686 during the same month a year ago, and its market share slipped from 0.51 to 0.39 percent as a result. Abarth was up 35.00 percent last month, with 135 sales, 35 units higher than during the same month last year, although as the Scorpion brand is busy reestablishing itself in the UK the year-on-year data is meaningless.

For the year to date Fiat has sold 20,453 cars in the UK, and compared to 14,009 units during the opening four months of last year, that equates to a year-on-year rise of 46.00 percent and means its market share has jumped from 2.28 to 2.69 percent. Alfa Romeo is also up in volume terms on last year, 2,546 units for the year-to-date is up 250 units on the same period last year, and adds up to a 10.99 percent rise, but with the overall market up more than double that (+23.87) for the year-to-date, Alfa Romeo's market share thus slips from 0.37 to 0.33 percent. Abarth is on 508 cars registered so far this year, and compared to the 408 cars it sold during the same period last year, it is up 28.19 percent.

Fiat Group's partner Chrysler Group continued to slump in a market where the Chrysler brand name is likely to continue once the messy realignment with Lancia has fully played out. The Chrysler brand managed just 128 registrations last month, down 27.27 percent year-on-year, Dodge was on a round 100 units sold, down 63.77 percent, while Jeep's sales slumped by a half, 107 sales equating to a drop of 50.23 percent. For the year-to-date the picture is mixed for the Chrysler Group, the Chrysler brand has managed to find just 526 buyers for its models so far this year and is down by more than a quarter (-27.35 percent), Dodge is the poorest performer in terms of volume, only managing 320 registrations, and is down 41.28 percent, while 925 sales for Jeep, a spurt put on during a couple of recent good months, means it is up 51.14 percent year-on-year for the first four months of the year.