New car registrations fell by 23 per cent in October marking six months of consecutive car sales decline.
Latest SMMT figures reveal the steepest drop in sales for seventeen years, since 1991 and the last recession.
Luxury cars - particularly Bentleys – and people carriers have been hit very hard.
“October has proved another difficult month for the UK motor industry,” commented Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive, “action is needed to help restore consumer confidence and encourage buyers back to showrooms.”
Everitt called on the government to drop interest rates in an effort to boost business.
The annual new car sales forecast has been reduced to 2.15 million - 10.7 per cent fewer vehicles than were sold in 2007.
Superminis are still selling strongly. This was the only sector of the market that saw any growth, with the Vauxhall Corsa October’s best-selling model.
Diesel market share also rose to a record high of 45.6 per cent during October as consumers look to buy more economical models with lower CO2 emissions.
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Re: Car sales continue to fall
HaHa! 'farmers workhouse' very amusing. I must say many of the female 'farmers' on my school run look very tasty in that case, for farmers.
Anyway manufacturers should have started developing more efficient engines and lowering weight years ago, not now. Cars have been bloating and the stupid obsession with each model being bigger! Typical 2.0 diesels have climbed from 128bhp to 170+bhp but are still only turning in 9.5-10 second 0-60's, over stuffed, unparkable, fat-arsed cars. Those smug BMW adverts that go on about how efficient their cars are now makes a good point, they sensibly spent money on engine efficiency development and now can afford to be smug (even if their sales are plumetting too)