Britain’s new car market continued its negative trend in May in the face of continued political instability, a fall in consumer confidence and uncertainty over diesel.
A total of 183,724 new cars were registered last month, down 4.6% year on year, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Private consumers bought 5% fewer cars, with fleet and business custom falling by 3% and 29% respectively.
One main factor is the sustained decline in demand for diesel cars, which were down 18.3% year on year in their 26th consecutive month of falling popularity. This wasn’t offset by a modest 1% growth for petrol cars and an 11.7% rise for alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs).
Of the rise in AFVs, demand for petrol-electric hybrids increased by nearly 35%, with battery electric cars up 81%. However, plug-in hybrids declined 40.6% in May and 25.1% so far this year - figures the SMMT claims are directly related to the Government’s removal of the purchase grant for the vehicle type.
SMMT CEO Mike Hawes said: “Confusing policy messages and changes to incentives continue to affect consumer and business confidence, causing drivers to keep hold of their older, more polluting vehicles for longer.
“New cars are safer, cleaner and more advanced than ever and, with sophisticated safety, efficiency and comfort features as well as a host of attractive deals on offer. There has never been a better time to invest in a new car”.
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Brexit shutdowns cause UK production slump in April
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Really good point 405 - no bandages on you
In fact, Autocar should just roadtest 'old cars' so we know what we're getting and stop promoting anything new.
Unless of course, the new is electric, which might be a little more help in saving the planet. Or perhaps new petrol, which doesn't pollute as much. Or maybe new diesel, with particulates removed and low CO2.
Seems like a positive sign to me
For the good of the planet that's a good thing and a car is not "an investment". Time to keep the "old car" we have and save the planet for future generations. Some manufacturers will need to close down it's as simple as that. The government wanted people to drive less, use public transport and they are. After the crap they pulled with diesel and then the retrospective taxation they actually scrapped (good petrol) cars for and then the final insult of introducing ULEZ zones to deal with the problems of diesel that have been known since the the 1940's (pathe news explains) do we think that people should just carry on walking into oblivion like a "mummy" with its arms outstreched, and eyes wrapped in bandages?
405line wrote:
Yep.
We've never had it so good
My main car is 5 years old with 60k on it, drives like new, looks like new, has every gadget I need and is plenty quick enough. The car will probably do another 50k in 2 years and still feel new'ish, why would I spend £20k+ to trade it in for something that'll only be slight better.
Cars are just to good these days, even their looks barely change. Just check out a 12 year old BMW 1 series