SPRING has come right on time for car dealers, with March's surprisingly strong sales figures an unexpected gift for Easter, said Sue Robinson, director of the RMI National Franchised Dealers Association, part of the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF).

She was commenting on car sales figures.

During March 449,287 new cars were sold, 3.1 per cent up on 2006.

Robinson continued: "These figures are extremely welcome although it would be imprudent for businesses to expect 2007 to be a boom year based on one month of strong sales.

"Since the industry moved to a twice yearly plate change, there has been an increasing trend for March sales to grow at the expense of September."

Robinson added: "We have seen a consumer slowdown through the last few quarters, and we have yet to see the impact of the Chancellor's budget, which occurred mid-month.

"Therefore we will wait and see if the next few months provide equally good news."