Diesel registrations plummet 31% 05 | 12 | 2017

SALES OF DIESEL cars plummeted by 3.06% — 27,163 units —  in November, as the UK market fell for the eighth month in a row. A total of 163,541 new cars were registered last month, 11.2% less than in November 2016. (Related: Demonisation of diesels "is unfair")

In contrast to diesel, sales of petrol cars rose 5% to 92,944 units, giving petrol a 56.8% market share; that’s up from 48.1% at the same point last year. (Related: SMTA — "Budget failed to deliver")

Alternative fuelled vehicles also saw a marked increase, with an growth of 33.1%. They now account for 5.4% of the UK market. 

While business and fleet registrations fell by 33.6% and 14.1% respectively, it’s significant that private registrations were down by the smallest percentage last month, just falling 5.1%.

In the year-to-date, 2,388,144 new cars have been registered in the UK: that’s a drop of  5%, or 126,620 cars, on the 11 months last year.

“An eighth month of decline in the new car market is a major concern,” Mike Hawes, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders chief executive, said, “with falling business and consumer confidence exacerbated by ongoing anti-diesel messages from the Government.

“Diesel remains the right choice for many drivers, not least because of its fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions. The decision to tax the latest low-emission diesels is a step backwards and will only discourage drivers from trading in their older, more polluting cars.

“Given fleet renewal is the fastest way to improve air quality, penalising the latest, cleanest diesels is counterproductive and will have detrimental environmental and economic consequences.”

Last month, the Government introduced diesel tax hikes that affected both private and fleet buyers.

Related: Sales of diesel cars in Scotland slump 29.5% in October

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Jim McGill