THE SCOTTISH TOP 10

Britain’s new car market was stuck firmly in reverse gear last month suffering a decline of almost 16 per cent as motorists continued to dump diesels.

Across the UK, around 474,000 new vehicles were registered in March compared with 562,000 during the same month last year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). It was driven by a 37 per cent slide in the number of new diesel cars purchased.

In Scotland, total sales fell by just under 21 per cent, year-onyear, to 39,646 vehicles.

Industry experts said weak consumer confidence and uncertainty surrounding the future of diesel vehicles continued to dent showroom trade, while many people were holding onto their existing cars for longer.

Registrations of petrol cars in the UK rose by 0.5 per cent last month, while demand for alternatively fuelled vehicles such as hybrids and pure electrics revved up 6 per cent.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said March’s overall decline was “not unexpected” given the surge in registra-

0 Sales of diesel-powered vehicles plunged 37%, year-on-year, last month tions in the same month last year before changes to vehicle excise duty came into effect.

“The market itself is relatively high, with the underlying factors in terms of consumer choice, finance availability and cost of ownership all highly competitive,” he said.

All new diesels have been subjected to a one-band increase in the first-year vehicle excise duty rate since the start of April.

Proposals have also been outlined by the UK government to ban the sale of all conventional diesel and petrol cars by 2040.

Chris Bosworth, director of strategy at Close Brothers Motor Finance, described the latest figures as disappointing, pointing out that March is traditionally a popular month to buy vehicles due to the introduction of a new number plate.

“As we begin the one year countdown to Brexit we expect turbulence in the sector to continue,” he said, “but dealers are not powerless to adapt. They need to be willing