Vehicle Trend

Dec 11, 2013 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's motor vehicle registrations were flat in November 2013 at 27,424 units, barely changed from 27,082 a year earlier but there were steep increases in hybrids, large cars and sport utility vehicles, an analysis by a research house shows.

Motor car registrations at 2,226 in November were sharply up from 1,466 a year earlier, with so-called pre-owned and hybrids driving volumes.

"The number of hybrids has increased to 1,149, the highest monthly figure for the year," JB Securities said in an analysis of data from Sri Lanka's vehicle registration office.

"To put it in context in Nov 2012 the number of hybrids were 199."

Pre-owned medium car segment (1,000 1,600 cubic centimeter capacity engines) showed a momentum of increasing momentum recording 1,257 units, majority of them being Hybrids, Aqua, Fit and Toyota Allion, the research house said.

The Toyota Prius having a 1,800 cc engine was classified as a large car.

Toyota was the top brand among pre-owned motor car new registrations making up 1,143 units in November followed by Honda at 437.

A larger share of the cars was being bought with finance facilities, going up to 48 percent in the month from 43 percent a year earlier.

In the budget for 2014 th