UK car sales fall for first time since 2011, driven by diesel fears

Madeleine Cuff
clock • 3 min read

But sales of 'alternatively fuelled vehicles', including electric and hybrids, hit record high

Confusion over the future of diesel vehicles have driven the first slump in UK sales of new cars since 2011, data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) revealed today. After five...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

Madeleine Cuff
Author spotlight

Madeleine Cuff

View profile
More from Madeleine Cuff

From SEMTA to Enginuity: Engineering skills body rebrands

Inside Enginuity's plan to build a workforce for the future

More on Automotive

Government charges up electric truck drive with £1bn budget
Automotive

Government charges up electric truck drive with £1bn budget

Department for Transport confirms extension of electric truck and van schemes, as it looks to mobilise over £1bn of funding in support of fleet decarbonisation efforts

James Murray
James Murray
clock 25 March 2026 • 4 min read
New electric bus fleet to connect Salisbury and Stonehenge
Automotive

New electric bus fleet to connect Salisbury and Stonehenge

Wiltshire Council and Salisbury Reds set to receive 23 new electric buses to serve Salisbury and surrounding areas

Amber Rolt
clock 24 March 2026 • 2 min read
'Robotaxi' rollout: Uber reveals plan to invest up to $1.25bn in Rivian
Automotive

'Robotaxi' rollout: Uber reveals plan to invest up to $1.25bn in Rivian

Ride-hailing giant is aiming to deploy 10,000 Rivian autonomous electric vehicles across US, Canada, and Europe by 2031

Michael Holder
Michael Holder
clock 20 March 2026 • 2 min read