EU tests cause car sales crash New emission rules blamed for slump
CAR chiefs yesterday blamed new EU rules for a 20% slump in sales last month.
All cars sold from September 1 were required to pass tougher emissions tests ordered by Brussels.
It meant around 1,500 models undergoing fresh tests.
But industry leaders say there weren’t enough laboratories to carry out the work in time. And it meant some cars not being available for sale in September, a key month for the trade with the number plate change.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said the shortage meant only 338,834 new cars hit the road last month, down 20.5% on 2017. Mike Hawes, SMMT chief, said: “With the industry given barely a year to reapprove the entire European model line-up, it’s no
surprise we’ve seen bottlenecks and a squeeze on supply.”
The rushed-in rules piled pressure on the motor trade, which has suffered from buyer confusion over diesels, waning confidence levels, plus the looming threat from Brexit.
New car sales so far this year are down 7.5%. Diesel sales dived 42.5% last month, with petrol down 6.7%.
Sales to private and fleet buyers
plunged by around half, with the Ford Fiesta remaining top of the sales chart.
Meanwhile, the Unite union has warned at least 291,000 jobs in the UK and European car industry could be at risk by 2030 under plans to phase out petrol and diesel cars.
It says a gradual switch from combustion engines to electric and other greener technologies would mean fewer people being employed in making parts.
Unite called for a detailed action plan to meet the emission targets.
Tony Burke, assistant general secretary, said: “This means going over and above the ministers’ current piecemeal offering with an approach that protects jobs and develops skills”.