The Guardian. British car sales reached a record level in the first half of this year and are tracking to a new full year high.

Sales, which dipped last month to 239,077 from 240,174 a year ago, were up 2.2% at 1.38m in the first six months and the society [of motor manufacturers and traders ] said the market should hit 2.6m in 2004 as a whole.

The booming British market, poised for a fourth successive year of record sales, is outpacing that of mainland Europe where demand - especially in Germany - remains sluggish.

Among the main beneficiaries are diesel-powered cars, which now account for just under a third of all sales...