Car Insurance
New car sales fall in June
Mon, 10 Jul 2006
The number of new cars sold in the UK fell this summer, with sales down by 4.2 per cent compared with the same time last year.
Sales were also down by 3.6 per cent compared with last month, with a total of just under 220,000 new cars registered during June, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Despite this general downward trend, sales of superminis and diesel-powered cars were found to be up, with the number of diesel cars sold up a massive 39 per cent.
Commenting on the new figures, SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan said that the rising cost of motoring, with increased fuel costs adding to road tax, car insurance and purchasing costs, was to blame for the fall in consumer enthusiasm.
"In a market that has wobbled on the back of weaker consumer confidence and higher fuel costs, it's not surprising that supermini cars and diesel models are picking up," he added.
"New car buyers are increasingly aware of the benefits of smaller cars and those powered by highly-efficient and cleaner diesel engines."
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