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The motor industry today renewed its call for a scrappage scheme to be introduced in the Budget as new car registrations fell 30.5% in March to 313,912 units. In the first quarter, sales are down 29.7 per cent.
“March new car registrations are a barometer of confidence in the economy, from businesses and consumers alike.
“The fall in the market shows that government needs to do more to boost confidence,” said SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt.
“A scrappage scheme will provide the incentive needed and the evidence is clear that schemes already implemented across Europe do work to increase demand.
“The UK is the only major European market not to implement a scheme.”
RMI National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) director Sue Robinson said the adoption of a car scrappage scheme would give a boost to the new car market, and enable consumers to trade in their old cars for new, less polluting vehicles:
“The RMIF will be presenting a paper to Government in the next few days that will provide a working framework for a vehicle scrappage scheme in the UK that mirrors those successfully adopted in other EU states,” she said