The motoring industry in Scotland started 2013 confidently, with sales up 12.4% on last year.
A total of 11,630 new cars left showrooms last month, up from 10,349 in January 2012. Scotland outperformed the UK car market, which only saw an 11% rise.
Tayside was one of the best performing regions of Scotland with sales up almost a fifth from 739 to 884.
Fife saw a 10% uplift in sales from 521 to 573, while Grampian enjoyed a 6.3% rise.
The Ford Fiesta was the best-selling car last month, with 740 sold, followed by its stablemate the Focus then the Vauxhall Corsa and Fiat 500.
Vauxhall’s Antara was Scotland’s fifth favourite car last month, with 282 of them sold.
SMTA chief executive Douglas Robertson said: “We are pleased at the continued increase in new car sales following reasonably good sales in 2012. Consumer demand for purchasing new cost-effective cars remains strong.”
