New cars sold in Britain last year were more harmful to the environment than those in 2016 because of the “demonisation” of diesel.
Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) revealed that average CO2 emissions from cars sold last year were higher than in 2016, reversing a near 20-year decline.
The increase – to 121.04 grams of CO2 per kilometre from 120.1g/km – is being blamed by the trade group on the backlash against diesel vehicles, which pump out less CO2 than petrol vehicles.
Motorists are abandoning cars powered by diesel, the SMMT’s preliminary annual figures show, with a 17pc annual plunge in diesel sales in the wake of the Volkswagen scandal and confusion over the government’s policies towards the fuel.
Ministers want to improve air quality by reducing harmful nitrous oxides, which diesels generally produce more of than petrol cars.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said “major and unnecessary damage” had been done to diesel, resulting in a situation which is “bad for the country and bad for the industry”.
He singled out for criticism the Budget which ramped up taxes on sales of new diesels and the launch of air quality plans in the summer which initially appeared to mean sales of all new petrol and diesel cars would banned from 2040, before it was clarified that hybrid cars were not included.
“People are worried about tax increases on diesel,” Mr Hawes said. “They are holding off buying new diesel cars because of the confusion and that means older, dirtier diesels are staying on the roads.”
Levels of nitrogen oxide – NOx – pumped out by vehicles were not factored in, but the SMMT pointed out the latest cars adhere to strict regulations which have cut NOx emissions by 84pc since 2000.
The SMMT boss called on the Government to “stop the negativity” around diesel and recognise that for motorists doing longer trips, it can be more environmentally friendly than petrol, though acknowledged for short journeys in congestion petrol is better.
According to the SMMT, motorists are adopting a “wait and see” approach to buying cars – whatever fuel they use – in the face of faltering consumer confidence caused by Brexit. This resulted in a 5.6pc drop in total new car sales during 2017 to 2.54m, down from the previous year’s record of 2.7m.
Mr Hawes stressed that sales “have not gone off a cliff: 2017 is still the third biggest year for the industry in a decade”.
But buyers are still shying away from buying new diesels cars – and even green electric alternatives – because of confusion, according to data from digital analytics company Sophus3, which examines car manufacturer and automotive media web traffic.