September 2018 New Car registrations down by 20% year on year

[Zak33]

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/i...p-20-september

VW took one of the biggest kicks as it just cant get all the car's emmission tested in time
Partly because the new emmission tests all need redoing for all new cars, and partly because everyone bailed out of the UK test facility for fear of Brexit leaving the tests useless from April 19.
VW are down close to 50% - they had a LOT of emmission testing to sort through.

https://www.am-online.com/news/marke...-registrations

To put this all into context, the UK registered 87,000 fewer cars this Sept (18) than last Sept(17)

(Aug was up..but August is such a small registration month as it's the old reg plate, a 23% increase is actually very few cars)

[peterb]

But alternative fuelled vehicles (including EVs and HEVs) rose 3.9% - Diesels and Petrol vehicles took the hits.

In numbers of sales AFVs are still small, but the upward trend is there.

And that trend is likely to trigger improvements in charging (and the supporting) infrastructure and further development in battery technology and battery recycling.

From a government perspective, the problem will be replacing lost revenue from Fuel duty and VAT on fuel sales. At some point there may be increased VAT on electricity sold at fast charging outlets.

[Gerrard]

I have been hearing on the radio PPI type adverts for a class-action case against VW for 50% of the vehicle value which I think is kind of ridiculous. I understand they cheated the tests, or probably more accurately got caught cheating at the tests, but personally can't see how an owner has particularly lost that much if the tax based on the emissions aren't being changed. And you can't really complain about the MPG since I don't think anyone believes the quoted MPG. Then again, depends what the drop off is when they "patched" it out. I think I read it was only 1-2 MPG which is a variation you can get just depending on the weather frankly.

[Saracen]

I have been hearing on the radio PPI type adverts for a class-action case against VW for 50% of the vehicle value which I think is kind of ridiculous. I understand they cheated the tests, or probably more accurately got caught cheating at the tests, but personally can't see how an owner has particularly lost that much if the tax based on the emissions aren't being changed. And you can't really complain about the MPG since I don't think anyone believes the quoted MPG. Then again, depends what the drop off is when they "patched" it out. I think I read it was only 1-2 MPG which is a variation you can get just depending on the weather frankly.

Well, what effect has the emissions scandal had on the second-hand value of used diesel VWs,
especially bearing in mind VW were up to their eyeballs in deceit.

Personally, I feel zero sympathy for VW if sales have slumped, and even less if they get hit with a lawsuit with a punitive element.

The peopoe I do feel sorry for are those that VW conned, and that bought rrlying not just on the cars but VWs reputation.


As for general car sales slumps, my first caution would be agsinst reading much into one or two month's figures.

My second caution would be that Brexit uncertainty may be having an effect. It may be that buyers are deferring decisions, waiting to see how the dust settles. Perdonally, I'm not. I've already decided subsequent cars will not be EU -made, rwgardless of how Brexit goes from here on.


What I am waiting on is to get a better grip on how the progress goes towards electric/hybrid. Will my next car be EV/hybrid, or not?

And, to be honest, will I buy another new car at all, or just use the current one(s) 'til it/they fall apart, and by then, rely on car-shafing, Uber, etc?

[PC-LAD]

so, this shows people are more interested in used cars because of their financial situation?

[DanceswithUnix]

So last month sales were up by about the amount that this month sales are down? Sounds like a bunch of people just bought a month early, possibly trying to beat a higher first year vehicle tax because the new tests are tougher so cars go up a group or two?

[Zak33]

So last month sales were up by about the amount that this month sales are down? Sounds like a bunch of people just bought a month early, possibly trying to beat a higher first year vehicle tax because the new tests are tougher so cars go up a group or two?

not quite.

August market is tiny.... diminutive.
September is gargantuan.....vast

the % are thr same.. the volume difference is immense

[Gerrard]

Well, what effect has the emissions scandal had on the second-hand value of used diesel VWs,
especially bearing in mind VW were up to their eyeballs in deceit.

Personally, I feel zero sympathy for VW if sales have slumped, and even less if they get hit with a lawsuit with a punitive element.

The peopoe I do feel sorry for are those that VW conned, and that bought rrlying not just on the cars but VWs reputation.

I doubt it is 50% of the car value. 10-20% seems like a reasonable amount; 50% just sounds like a selfish cash grab. But ultimately the only reason people even care about emissions is car tax. A few might want to "save the world", but for the vast majority of people it is down to how much it costs to run. Since the tax band of the cars won't change (as far as I am aware the Government doens't change bands retrospectively), that only leaves the MPG figure. The only other thing it might effect is the Low Emission zone thingy in London I guess.

[philehidiot]

AFV sales are up

Indeed, this is my own little commuter. Armoured fighting vehicles are the best way to fight congestion. Problem is that you don't "cut through" it like with a motorcycle, so much as "crush" it. Can get messy, but you're never late for work.