Car sales records show that people are going for latest petrol vehicles and the sale of diesel cars have dropped significantly

This year has been special for the car industry as record numbers of vehicles have been sold for the third month running. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) revealed a report which said that nearly half a million buyers bought new vehicles in March, setting a sales record for this century.

The total number of new registrations this March crossed 492,774 which set the record for highest monthly figures after August 1998. The new ‘15’ number saw the best ever month for registrations.

It has been observed that people have opted for petrol vehicles this time and turned their back on diesels. Some even say that it might be the backlash of the campaign initiated by London Mayor Boris Johnsons against diesel. Or it might be the result of the improvements made to petrol engines and the technology utilised these days.

In March last year, the gap between petrol and diesel motor sales was 2.5 per cent which has now climbed to 4 percent this year. Every year since 2011, diesel sales have outstripped petrol vehicles. The funny thing is, drivers have been encouraged to use diesel vehicles for their low CO2 emissions.

Buyers have been offered different temptations like company car tax, road tax rates, and resident parking permit charges; all have the same goal to increase the sale of diesels. Four years ago petrol cars were outnumbered by diesel sales. Recently there were claims about diesel being harmful for their nitrogen dioxide emissions and that’s why some local councils are charging more for diesels.