Ford outperformed the market last month almost three times over.

Continued busy scrappage trading also helped market leader Ford to take 16.9 per cent of total August registrations – up from 16.1 per cent a year ago.

While August’s car market grew by 6 per cent year on year, Ford’s sales leapt by 17 per cent, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Almost 1,400 of Ford’s 10,755 car registrations in August this year were to customers scrapping a 10-year-old vehicle or older in return for a minimum £2,000 incentive. Ford has delivered over 13,000 vehicles to scrappage customers since the scheme began in May.

Nigel Sharp, Ford Britain managing director, said: “August proved to be a surprisingly strong run-up to this month’s ‘59-plate’ launch. The momentum of scrappage through early summer together with September’s plate change suggests a busy month ahead.”

August’s top selling car was the Ford Focus, while the Ford Fiesta tops the year-to-date sales charts.