Petrol car registrations rose 3.4 percent from last year and 26.8 percent for alternative-fuel vehicles. Diesel car registrations slipped slightly.

"Consumer confidence remains high as buyers continue to capitalise on attractive finance deals, although this could be affected by political and economic uncertainty in the coming months," SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said.

(Reporting by Andy Bruce; Editing by Gareth Jones)

Stocks treated in this article : Ford Motor Company, Volkswagen AG, General Motors Company