Fuel and tax worries drive UK motorists to favour diesel cars
BRITAIN’S car industry continued to grow rapidly in June, sector data showed yesterday, with diesel vehicle registrations surging as consumers sought improved fuel efficiency.
Last month saw 189,512 cars registered, up 3.5 per cent compared with the same month of 2011, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The rise takes the total for 2012 so far to 1.057m – also up 2.7 per cent on the same period of 2011.
Of those cars sold in June, 51.6 per cent were diesel and 47.1 per cent petrol. Indeed, the absolute number of petrol car sales was almost 1,000 lower this June.
The month also saw 2,481 alternative fuel vehicles sold, up 47.8 per cent on the year.
“Despite domestic and international economic concerns, UK motorists are responding positively to new products and the latest fuel-efficient technology,” said SMMT boss Paul Everitt.