{"id":6045,"date":"2019-01-07T06:09:26","date_gmt":"2019-01-07T06:09:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.styledeals.co.uk\/blog\/car-sales-down-for-second-consecutive-year\/"},"modified":"2019-01-07T06:09:26","modified_gmt":"2019-01-07T06:09:26","slug":"car-sales-down-for-second-consecutive-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.styledeals.co.uk\/blog\/car-sales-down-for-second-consecutive-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Car sales down for second consecutive year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Media caption<\/span>Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive says customers are ‘sitting on their hands’<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

UK car sales have fallen for the second year in a row, according to the industry trade body.<\/p>\n

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said 2.36 million new cars were registered in 2018 down 7% on the previous year.<\/p>\n

Sales of diesel cars tumbled by 30% as customers worried about potential restrictions on diesel cars.<\/p>\n

However, the move away from diesel cars contributed to a 3% rise in the average emissions of CO2 by new cars last year. <\/p>\n

Diesel cars typically produce less CO2 than petrol vehicles.<\/p>\n

A customer switch towards bigger cars, in particular SUVs, also contributed to greater average CO2 emissions.<\/p>\n

While diesel cars produce less CO2 then petrol cars, they produce higher levels of particulates, microscopic bits of soot left over from the combustion process, that can cause health problems.<\/p>\n

‘Confidence problem’<\/h2>\n

The SMMT blamed last year’s fall in cars sales – the second consecutive year that the market has declined – on uncertainty over Brexit and a shortage in supply of some vehicles due to a new emissions testing scheme.<\/p>\n

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes described those challenges as “something of perfect storm” for the industry.<\/p>\n

“What we have been seeing over the last couple of years is a decline in business and consumer confidence, especially the confidence to buy big ticket items like a new car,” he said.<\/p>\n

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Analysis:<\/h2>\n

Theo Leggett, BBC Business Correspondent<\/h2>\n
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Image copyright<\/span>
\n Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n

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The boss of the SMMT says the industry has been facing a “perfect storm” – but the real typhoon may lie ahead.<\/p>\n

So far the decline in car sales has been largely due to a fairly catastrophic fall in demand for diesels.<\/p>\n

Put simply, the public perception is that diesel engines are dirty – leading headline-hungry politicians to talk up the prospect of bans and other restrictions.<\/p>\n

And who will buy a car if they think they won’t be allowed to use it?<\/p>\n

The industry insists modern diesels are cleaner than their predecessors – but persuading policymakers to support a diesel sales drive currently looks like an uphill struggle.<\/p>\n

However, the real storm could erupt on 29 March. The SMMT says a no deal Brexit would be a “disaster” for the industry – because manufacturers need parts to be where they are needed, exactly when they are needed. <\/p>\n

New border controls and formalities would make those operations “virtually impossible”.<\/p>\n

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Despite the dramatic decline in sales of diesel cars, Mr Hawes thinks those types of cars have a future.<\/p>\n

“For many consumers diesel is still the right choice. It offers better fuel economy and generally about 20% improvement on CO2 emissions.<\/p>\n

“There are no specific bans on diesel and the newer diesels are actually exempt from any of the additional restrictions that are being put in place,” he told the BBC.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n


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Source<\/a> by [author_name]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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