Orders for the latest generation of the Cowley-built Mini are running at record levels.

Bosses say demand for the car is greater now than at any time since its launch almost 13 years ago, despite latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders showing UK sales for May fell by almost 22 per cent.

Mini spokesman Chris Overall said: “The reason for the fall is that it is a drop in registrations due to full production of the new model coming on line.

“We actually have the highest forward order book in the history of the brand and the sales figure will even out by the end of the year.”

Mr Overall could not reveal how many cars had actually been bought in the UK in the last month but said waiting times for delivery to customers were about eight weeks, due to the car being built to order.

The figures show a total of 3,184 cars were registered in May, compared to 4,080 for the same period last year, a drop of 21.96 per cent.

And for the year to date, 15,943 cars have been driven away by new owners, compared to 19,364 in the first five months of 2013 — a drop of 17.67 per cent.

Nationally, the UK car market has experienced 27 consecutive months of growth, a new record.

New car registrations increased 7.7 per cent in May to 194,032 — the most in May since 2004.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: "The new car market has now grown in every month since March 2012 — the longest period of growth on record and a reflection of the UK’s ever-improving economic conditions.”