Tax fears over diesel cars have seen sales plummet at fastest rate in NINE years

SALES of diesel cars have slumped at their fastest rate for almost nine years.

Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed that diesel cars were down by 9.2 per cent last month compared to the same period a year ago.

Buyers are shunning them after the government hints that diesel drivers are to be clobbered with more taxes because of the pollution the vehicles cause.

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Drivers of diesel cars already have to pay higher road taxes and higher parking charges in some areas.

Yesterday one climate and energy expert urged the Chancellor to slap a £1,500 registration fee on new diesel motors.

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The call for the massive increase in the current £55 charge was made by Paul Drummond, of University College London.

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Sales of alternatively fuelled cars - mostly electric vehicles - also grew by 48.9 per cent to take a 4 per cent market share.

The vehicles accounted for one in every 25 cars sold, the SMMT revealed.

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Total car sales fell by 0.3 per cent in February, compared with the same month last year. This was the first decline in February sales in six years.

The second month of the year is traditionally a quieter month for sales, as buyers hang back to get hold of the first new 17-plate which is out in March.

However, February’s decrease in new car registrations is in stark contrast to January when there was unexpectedly strong growth.

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SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “We expect to see the market bounce back in March as buyers take advantage of the new 17-plate, as well as the last chance to buy a car eligible for current lower VED (vehicle excise duty) rates before they change on 1 April.”

The car market has been booming in recent years and new car registrations hit an all-time record in 2016 but last month’s slight dip in sales comes after several surveys of the UK economy revealed a softening in the consumer spending after the start of the year.