According to preliminary data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), new British car registrations fell by an annual 3% in October. Overall, the figures say demand has fallen by around 7% in the first 10 months of 2018.
The significant dip in recent months may be partly down to the drops in diesel demand owing to the ongoing fall-out from the diesel emissions scandal, and the uncertainty around Brexit and the potential disruption it could cause to supply chains.
This comes as Jaguar Land Rover, the country’s biggest carmaker, is set to re-open its Solihull plant after a two-week shutdown, which it blamed on weakening global demand and falling diesel sales.