New car registrations in the UK were down 24% last month, underlining the continuing turmoil in the global motor industry.
The data, released today by trade body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), came as Germany's Porsche and Volkswagen announced their merger, while US giant General Motors is expected to post a $7bn (£4.6bn) first quarter loss later today.
April's fall in new car registrations, to just 133,475 units, was the 11th consecutive year-on-year fall recorded by the SMMT. It was the worst April performance since 1991, although it was 13% better than the SMMT had forecast.
Car registrations have fallen by 245,184 units or 28.5% over the first four months of 2009, the industry body said. It is hoping the launch of a government scrappage scheme later this month will stimulate growth.
Paul Everitt, the SMMT's chief executive, said there was "strength and resilience" in the UK motor industry.
"Despite the tough conditions, industry is hopeful that its prospects will improve in the coming months and the steps it has taken will provide the basis for a sustained recovery once growth returns," he said.
"The UK motor industry remains of strategic importance and will play a key part in generating jobs and prosperity into the future."
Meanwhile, General Motors is set to report a loss of $6.9bn in the first three months of the year.
The ailing company, for decades one of the titans of corporate America, has until the end of the month to come up with a restructuring plan that is likely to see shareholders wiped out in its bid to cut debt.
Rival car giant Chrysler filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week after a handful of creditors refused government pressure to forgive the company's debts.
GM's problems mean it could lose its status as one of the US's top 30 companies after more than 80 years in the Dow Jones industrial average.
"There are two choices for GM: bankruptcy or increased government ownership," Dow Jones Indexes' editor and executive director, John Prestbo, told Bloomberg. "Definitely the trend is in the direction that would force us to remove it."
The company is also reportedly looking at buying a stake in Italian manufacturer Fiat in exchange for its European and Latin American operations.
