New-Car Sales Drop 4% in U.K.

Demand for new cars in the U.K. shrank 4% in June to a three-year low of 234,900 units, says the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Sales of diesel-powered cars plummeted 28% year-on-year to 74,400 units, shrinking diesel’s market share to less than 32% from nearly 43% a year ago. Volume for the January-June period totaled 1.31 million, down 6% from the same period in 2017.

SMMT CEO Mike Hawes says a bright spot in an otherwise “rocky” first half was a 45% surge to 15,500 units in deliveries of vehicles powered by hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrains.