LONDON, March 5 (Xinhua) -- British new car market rose slightly in February, marking a solid start to 2019 as Brexit looms, according to the figures released Tuesday by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Data showed that 81,969 new cars were registered across the UK in February, with 1.4 percent rising from the same period last year.

Notably, demand for alternatively fuelled vehicles continued to surge, with 34.0 percent increasing from one year earlier, marking the 22 consecutive month of growth, which suggested that new and cutting-edge models attracted significantly buyers.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of SMMT, said "It's encouraging to see market growth in February, albeit marginal, especially for electrified models. Car makers have made huge commitments to bring to market an ever-increasing range of exciting zero and ultra low emission vehicles and give buyers greater choice."

"These cars still only account for a fraction of the overall market, however, so if the UK is to achieve its electrification ambitions, a world-class package of incentives and infrastructure is needed," Hawes said.

SMMT noted that there already were around 40 plug-in models on the market in the UK, with more than 20 more expected to arrive in showrooms in 2019.