DIESEL DIPSTICKS

New car sales dropped last year by 5.7% and by 14.4% in December alone, the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders has revealed. Diesel sales fell 17.1% while sales of electrified cars (which includes plug-in hybrids) shot up 34.8%.

But my prediction this year is diesel sales will rally as politicians realise the effect an anti-diesel policy will have on Co2 levels – and as drivers realise how much extra they’ll pay for fuel if they buy petrol SUVs.

I think overall sales numbers will continue to decline as Brexit nears. Also, many people used PPI compo as deposits on new cars and that’s coming to an end. There will be fewer people who have a couple of grand spare to put down as a deposit for a new lease deal.