Why diesel car sales have hit a new low

Diesel vehicles are not as popular as they once were, and now there is conclusive proof. Figures show that last August, just over 40 percent of searches through a popular auto trading site were for diesel cars, whereas petrol searches were much higher.

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Less desirable

Searches for diesel vehicles have reached their lowest point, according to this source. The difference is stark when compared with figures from two years earlier at the same dealer when searches for diesel cars were more than 20 percent higher. In 2017, nearly two-thirds of all searches for vehicles were for diesel models. The number of registrations of diesel cars has also fallen, with a decrease of 30 percent in 2018.

New regulations

New regulations affecting diesel may be impacting the desire for this type of vehicle. A significant proportion of people are becoming more aware of air pollution, and some believe that diesel vehicles are making a large contribution to toxic air. Some members of the public even think that diesel cars should be banned. For more on this matter, read this report from The Guardian.

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Part of the problem with diesel cars is the emissions they produce, in particular, toxic nitrogen oxides. Diesel-powered automobiles produce more nitrogen oxides than petrol cars. The advent of the so-called diesel tax, where drivers have to pay a levy to compensate for older, more polluting cars, is also a source of concern for diesel owners.

Newer models are much cleaner to run, however, and demand for these is still strong. When buying a new car, it is always important to have the right insurance in place to take effect the moment it is driven out of the showroom. You can’t operate any vehicle on public roads without adequate motor trade insurance. If you want to compare motor trade insurance deals easily in one place, why not take a look at quotemetoday.co.uk, where you can get a sense of what the market is offering?

The days may be numbered for older diesel models that pollute the air. Fortunately, developments in technology mean that the newest diesel models are much more efficient at delivering great performance without producing anywhere near as many toxic emissions, so it is unlikely that diesel cars will disappear completely in the near future.