New car sales accelerated ahead last month, with registrations this year expected to reach a six-year high.
Castle Bromwich-based Jaguar Land Rover reported double digit year-on-year sales increases on its major brands.
Land Rover, which includes the traditional design and Range Rover models, sold 3,965 models during October - a rise of 14.43 per cent on the same month in 2012.
Stablemate Jaguar sold 944 vehicles up from 845 during the same month last year - an increase of 11.72 per cent.
Longbridge-assembled MG sold just 36 vehicles despite an extensive television advertising campaign for its new super-Mini - down by one from October 2012.
Luxury sportscar manufacturer Gaydon-based Aston Martin sold 66 vehicles down from 80 in the same month last year.
A total of 157,314 new cars were registered in October - a four per cent rise on the same month last year, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.
The October rise - the 20th successive monthly increase - took the year-so-far total to just over 1.95 million, a 10.2 per cent rise on January-October last year.
The SMMT now expects the year-end new car sales figure to reach 2.25 million - well up on 2.07 million last year and the best year since 2007.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “We have now seen 20 consecutive months of growth. These sustained rises have given us the confidence to raise our year-end forecast.
“We anticipate more moderate growth as the market stabilises.”
