LEAN DAYS FOR DIESEL

Sales of diesel cars plunged 21.3% year on year last month. Just over 30,300 new diesels took to the roads in August, while sales of petrol cars rose nearly 4%. The diesel drop comes amid fears higher taxes and surcharges will be imposed on drivers in some cities. Several car makers have launched diesel scrappage schemes, offering owners of older cars up to £8,000 off a new motor. Many say it is about driving polluting cars off the road, but the schemes come amid a wider slowdown in sales. Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders figures show a total of 76,433 new cars were registered in August, down 6.4%. Sales to private buyers crashed nearly 10%. The SMMT tried to downplay the fall by saying August was usually a quiet month.