March Car Sales Plunge 16% in U.K.

New-car deliveries in the U.K. skidded to 474,100 units last month from 562,300 vehicles in March 2017, dragged down by a 37% drop in demand for diesels.

Results compare with an abnormally any-month record high a year ago, notes the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Overall sales in March were the fourth-best in British history.

Still, March marked the 12th consecutive monthly decline in year-on-year volume. SMMT blames continuing consumer uncertainty about the U.K.’s future air quality plans and the effect of Britain’s impending exit from the European Union.

March’s sales decline saw double-digit shrinkage in private, fleet and business sales. Deliveries through the first quarter totaled 718,500 units, down 12%. Diesel sales for the period plummeted by one-third to 240,600 vehicles.