UK car sales hit record high in 2016 - preliminary data

British new car sales hit a record of 2.7 million units in 2016 despite fears that the Brexit vote could hit demand, although there are signs that registrations will fall this year, preliminary industry data showed on Thursday. Consumer spending has been the main motor of economic growth since the Brexit vote, although car sales to individual consumers have fallen in every month since April, compensated until December by business demand, which lifted overall figures. The SMMT, which is due to pu