Sales of new vehicles plummeted in the UK throughout 2020 in what was the most significant decline since 1943.
Last year, a total of 1.63 million new cars were sold across the country, representing a drop of 29.4 per cent and the lowest number of sales since 1992.
The most significant cause for the decline in new car sales was the first lockdown that was imposed in the UK in March 2020, with car dealerships throughout the country closed from March until June. Uncertainty around Brexit and an acceleration of the ban of petrol and diesel cars to 2030 also contributed to a troublesome year.
Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reveal that demand fell across all private vehicle segments, except for ‘specialist sports’ vehicles that enjoyed a sales increase of 7 per cent. Superminis were once again the UK’s most popular class, accounting for 31.2 per cent of the market despite a 25.9 per cent decline in registrations.