Sales of recent cars have ongoing their slump, falling 6.4pc in August, as motorists’ concerns over Britain’s economic health weigh - however the market might be starting to normalise.
New vehicle registrations - a proxy for sales - dropped to 76,433 recently, lower from 81,640 last year, based on data in the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
This fifth consecutive month of decline brings registrations around up to now to at least one,640,241, lower 2.4pc on 2016’s level, though it was an archive year.
SMMT August 2017 registrations
A brand new tax regime which elevated the price of vehicle possession from April has additionally skewed demand, with sales pulled toward beat the greater levy.
Manufacturers have launched a number of “scrappage” schemes touted as a means of having probably the most polluting older diesel vehicles from the roads within the wake from the VW scandal, which may be influencing sales, combined with the Government’s reannouncement of intends to ban the purchase of recent diesel and gas engine cars by 2040.
“Despite some recent monthly figures showing significant changes, we’re beginning to determine the marketplace even out overall and much more carefully reflect predictions for 2017 in general,Inches stated Richard Johnson, md of vehicle finance specialist Black Horse .
“Recent manufacturer scrappage schemes and lengthy-term intends to tackle polluting of the environment may have had an affect on August’s figures, particularly around the ongoing stop by diesel sales, but there's still instruction piece needed regarding newer cleaner diesel engines.”
Growing awareness around emissions from diesel engines hit sales of cars while using fuel, shedding 21.3pc within the month to 38,531, and taking diesel’s business to 39.6pc from 47.2pc last year.
Gas-engined cars sales rose 3.8pc to 40,602, representing 55.2pc from the market.
“Alternatively fuelled vehicles” (AFVs) for example electric and hybrids, were the greatest risers, with sales jumping 58.3pc within the year to two,507 as increasing numbers of cars while using technology become available and public acceptance from it grows. However, AFVs still represent just a small fraction of the marketplace, at 5.2pc.
The very best-selling vehicle in August was the VW Golf, with 2,279 registered, knocking the Ford Focus from the top place from recently.
Ford held to the title of the greatest-selling vehicle of the season though, using its Fiesta getting offered 64,988 models. Ford seemed to be within the second spot for the entire year up to now using its Focus at 47,291, in front of the VW Gold in third at 44,218.