Brits bought 20,000 fewer new diesel cars in May sparking fears vehicles are facing ‘the beginning of the end’

BRITS bought 20,000 fewer new diesel cars in May than a year before amid fears that the vehicles are facing “the beginning of the end”.

The 81,489 bought last month was down from 101,844 in the same month in 2016.

Diesel’s market share crashed from 50 per cent a year ago to just 43.7 per cent last month.

In contrast, 96,518 petrol cars were sold, compared with 96,110 in May 2016, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Sales of alternative fuel vehicles like electric cars, raced ahead with 8,258 sold, compared to 5,631 in 2016.

Concerns are growing over the air polluting effect of diesel.

Volkwagen's admission in 2015 it had fitted diesel cars with software that could cheat emissions tests also dented their image.

Shaun Armstrong, managing director of car finance provider creditplus.co.uk, said yesterday’s figures showed “the decimation of diesel”.

He added: “They could mark the beginning of the end. Buyers are ditching diesel vehicles in their droves and it’s hard to see how they can recover.”

Jim Holder, editorial director of What Car? magazine, was surprised by the scale of the slump.

He said: “There is no clear Government strategy on diesels. There has been a wave of negative headlines around the fuel but the taxation system continues to incentivise them.

“These mixed messages do nothing for consumer confidence.”

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes suggested another reason for the slowdown.

He said: “The General Election was always likely to give many pause for thought and affect buying patterns in the short term.”