UK motorists turn to ‘eco-friendly’ cars as they shun diesel ones

UK motorists are turning away from buying diesel cars and buying “more eco-friendly” ones, new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) suggest.

In a statement, the SMMT said that 78,778 diesel cars were sold in January, a drop of 4.3% on the same month last year.  Over the same period sales of electric cars and other alternatively-fuelled vehicles (AFVs) jumped by 19.9%.

For the first time, AFVs now account for more than 4% of the market. The figures show that 7,270 AFVs - including hybrids - were sold in January, gaining a 4.2% market share.

Sales of diesel cars have been falling for several months, following publicity about pollution and health issues.

In December 2016, sales of diesel cars were down by 6.8% on the same month a year earlier.

Mike Hawes, SMMT’s chief executive, said: “2017 got off to a good start in the new car market, buoyed by a great range of new models which are safer and cleaner than ever before.

“It’s encouraging to see alternatively fuelled vehicles benefiting from this positive growth, reaching a record market share.

“After record growth in 2016, some cooling is anticipated over the coming months, but provided interest rates remain low and the economy stable, the market is in a good position to withstand its short-term challenges.”

Several big cities around the world have said they want to ban diesel cars within ten years, because of the pollution they cause.

A group of doctors has called on the Mayor of London to ban them in the capital, while Westminster will hit some diesel drivers with extra parking charges from April.