New car registrations in the United Kingdom rose for the eighth consecutive month in March, recording a more than 17% rise from a year earlier, according to preliminary industry data released on Wednesday.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said it was the biggest month ever for battery electric car registrations.

The SMMT will provide the final figures for the month at 0900 GMT. (Reporting by Sinchita Mitra in Bengaluru; Editing by Shweta Agarwal)