24 July 2008
ALTERNATIVE FUEL CAR SALES RISE IN EAST ANGLIA
The latest used car sales figures from Experian®, the global information services company, reveal a greater shift over to more economical cars, despite sales of used cars with larger engines still performing strongly.
East Anglia saw the highest increase in the sale of large engine multi-purpose vehicles (MPV) and the second highest increase in the sale of sports cars, compared to any other region.[1] The Renault Scenic was the most popular selling used MPV in East Anglia during quarter one and the Toyota Celica was the best selling sports car.
Experian’s figures also reveal that there could be a potential boom in used cars that run on alternative fuel – with sales up 259.1 per cent in East Anglia during quarter one compared to the same period in 2007. The Toyota Prius was the best selling alternative fuel used in East Anglia. Across the country sales of cars that run on alternative fuel increased from 946 total sales to 1,951 (up 106.2 per cent).
Kirk Fletcher, Managing Director of Experian’s Automotive division, said: “Car buyers are more aware of the cost of running a car these days. Diesel car sales have been climbing for a number of years now, but if the recent increases in fuel prices continue, sales of alternative fuel cars could pick up more speed.
“Manufacturers are already beginning to look more closely at these vehicles types and some have even announced their intentions for more developments in these areas. This will eventually percolate into the used car market and we predict that we will see a greater boom in the sale of alternative fuel cars in the future.”
Total used car sales in East Anglia fell by 0.8 per cent, while total used car sales throughout the UK fell by 0.5 per cent (from 1,978,465 to 1,999,750 sales).
[1] During quarter one 2008 compared quarter 2007 - Experian’s MarketView Online.