The UK new car market fell in October at its fastest rate since 1991, industry data shows. New car registrations fell 23 per cent in October to 128,352 units, according to figures released by Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) today. It is the sixth consecutive month the motor industry has seen a downturn. Overall car sales this year are down 8.8 per cent compared with the same time last year.
However the rising popularity of diesel cars continued. With many of the greenest, lowest emission and highest mpg vehicles now being new design diesel cars surely aided the growth in the diesel market share, which rose to a record of 45.6 per cent in October.
In fact green cars dominated the few success stories this month, with the diminutive Vauxhall Corsa being the best selling model in October, while the Ford Focus remained overall the best seller over the first ten months of 2008.
Responding to news, Friends of the Earth’s transport campaigner Tony Bosworth said:
“The motor industry must build its future on producing greener cars that use less fuel to run – this will make motoring cheaper and help cut transport’s contribution to global climate change.
“The Government should help this transition by backing tough EU rules on the manufacture of fuel-efficient vehicles. Ministers must also do more to make fuel-efficient vehicles less expensive to buy and run – and gas-guzzlers more expensive.”
The mini segment was the only sector to post growth in October, while the supermini segment also continued to attract a larger share of the market.
“October has proved another difficult month for the UK motor industry and action is needed to help restore consumer confidence and encourage buyers back to the showrooms,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive.
