According to the industry data released today, UK car sales have fallen for the second year running.
Dealerships sold 2.36m new cars in 2018– seven per cent fewer than it managed in 2017– and 12 per cent below 2016 data, The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said today.
The sharp drop is being blamed on the Brexit uncertainty and the 2015 diesel emissions scandal, which exposed how Volkswagen has used ‘cheat software’ to hide how much pollution its cars were pumping out.
Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, told media that the drop was due to a combination of new emissions tests leading to supply bottlenecks, diesel drivers holding on to their cars for longer and low consumer confidence.
“Brexit is an issue,” he said, but he added that it would be “unfair to attribute [the decline] wholly to Brexit.” He further said that Dieselgate was probably the most significant factor as it was the only category in which sales dropped.
The UK auto industry is bracing for a third consecutive year of weak car sales after back-to-back slumps in 2017 and 2018. https://t.co/dTnKRflPsy
— Alanna Petroff (@AlannaPetroff) January 7, 2019
Despite this, the outlook for car accessories and modifications is more promising. The trends being witnessed include a demand for customising and personalising vehicles. Accessories are more affordable for the average consumer, however, as this post shows, items such as personalised number plates can be sold for a large price tag.
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