Big demand for Minis keeps used car sales puffing along
Minis, along with SUVs, were among the more popular vehicles, with demand rising by 4.3% and 9.5% respectively
BRITAIN’S used car market held steady last year despite a slip in fourth-quarter sales, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
More than 8m vehicles were sold over the period, a 1.1% dip but still the second highest figure on record. While the market performed well over the year, sales fell by 5.1% in the final quarter compared with the same period in 2016.
Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, said: “While such healthy demand is reassuring, to keep it that way and accelerate renewal throughout the fleet — the fastest way to improve air quality — government must now restore confidence to the new car sector.
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“Given the recent economic and fiscal uncertainty, particularly over diesel, consumers and businesses need clarity to encourage them to move out of their older vehicles and into newer, lower-emission cars, whatever their fuel type.”
SUVs and Minis were among the more popular vehicles, with demand rising by 9.5% and 4.3% respectively, while sales of executive cars rose marginally by 0.02 per cent.
Alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) also experienced growth, with sales of petrol-electric hybrid cars up 22.2% to 73,864, and zero-emission electric vehicles up 77.1% to 10,199.
Silver remained the nation’s most popular used car colour.
Gurpreet Narwan
This article first appeared in The Times
