Europeans are keener to buy a car than Brits
MORE than four in ten Brits expect to buy a car in the next two years, while motorists elsewhere in Europe are even more upbeat with half hoping to splash out, research out today claims.
Forty-five per cent of UK residents who took an online survey said they want to buy a car within two years, trailing the rest of Europe after several years of Britain’s car market soaring while sales across the continent fell.
Britons have a more optimistic view of the economy than their European counterparts, with EU figures showing that a net balance of 3.3 per cent of UK shoppers expect their financial situation to improve in the next year, compared to a net 6.6 per cent across the EU who believe things are getting worse.
Nevertheless, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association found last month that demand for new cars has been steadily increasing over the last six months, with sales up 6.6 per cent at the start of the year.
Nielsen’s internet poll of 30,000 people in 60 countries found that 65 per cent around the world expect to buy a car within two years, though the firm points out that online respondents tend to be younger and more affluent than the wider population.
The UK and the rest of Europe are outshone by Asia Pacific, where a whopping 72 per cent expect to buy a car, and Latin America, where three quarters hope to do so.
The market research company found that 28 per cent of Europeans intend to buy a used car, compared to 22 per cent looking for a brand new vehicle.
New car sales in Britain were up 17.7 per cent last month.