Sales of recent vehicles droop as drivers shun electrical and diesel autos

Sales of new cars fell by 6 per cent last month.

Industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said 144,288 new cars were registered in October.

That compares to 153,529 during the same month last year.

Industry body, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said 144,288 new cars were registered in October. That compares to 153,529 during the same month last year 

The SMMT said the decrease is equivalent to a £350million loss in turnover. 

The fall was driven by double-digit drops in petrol and diesel vehicle deliveries, down 14.2 per cent and 20.5 per cent respectively.

There was a 1.6 per cent decline in the uptake of hybrid electric vehicles (EVs), and a 3.2 per cent fall of plug-in hybrid EVs.

Pure-battery EVs bucked the trend, with growth of 24.5 per cent amid the introduction of new models and heavy discounting. 

The SMMT said the number of pure-battery EV models available has increased by 38 per cent since the start of the year to more than 125. 

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: ‘Massive manufacturer investment in model choice and market support is helping make the UK the second largest EV market in Europe.’

Dan Caesar, boss of campaign group EVUK, said: ‘Discounting is moving new car-buyers towards battery electric vehicles as they become more affordable.’