Car production figures for September 2009 are due to be revealed, with the motor industry hoping for more good news as the sector continues its recovery.

The car-scrappage scheme has boosted new car sales and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, which is publishing the figures, is now looking to see a similar surge in production.

July car production fell only 17.9% compared with July 2008, but the August 2009 figures were disappointing - dipping 31.5% compared with August 2008.

Car production for the first eight months of this year is down 44.6% compared with the January-August 2008 period.

New car sales fell for 15 successive months until there was a 2.4% rise in July 2009. This was followed by an increase of 6.0% in August and an encouraging rise of 11.4% in September when the new 59 number plates were introduced.

The September surge meant that new car registrations for the first nine months of this year were only down 15.5% compared with the January-September 2008 period.

Much of the recovery is down to the £300 million "cash for bangers" scrappage scheme which was announced in the Budget and introduced in May.

Last month the Government announced it was extending the scheme to include an extra 100,000 cars.

As part of the extended scrappage scheme, van owners looking to trade in their vehicles will now be able to scrap vehicles that are eight years old, rather than meet the previous 10-year requirement.

Also, the age qualification for car owners now extends the benefits to cars registered on or before February 29 2000.