-
A fifth (21%) of drivers fear their current
motor will lose value as a result of the government’s proposed
ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars from
2040
-
Less than one in 10 (9%) are now more
concerned about the environmental impact of their current
vehicle
-
Two thirds (67%) of drivers agreed that the
ban is still so far off that they doubt it will affect their
choice of car for years to come
With the Government’s plans to ban sales of diesel
and petrol cars by 2040, new research shows that UK drivers are
already worried about how the restrictions will impact them
financially.
A fifth (21%) of over 18,500 drivers in an AA-Populus
poll for AA
Cars, are concerned their current petrol or
diesel car will be worth less as a result of the government’s
announcement.
The fear of how this ban will hit drivers financially
is markedly more concerning for Brits than green issues, with
less than one in 10 (9%) now worried about the environmental
impact of their current diesel or petrol
vehicle.
That’s not to say these plans haven’t resonated with
drivers – in fact, one in five (17%) motorists suggested that
they are now more aware of the environmental concerns around
petrol and diesel vehicles.
On the other hand, two-thirds (67%) of drivers agreed
that the ban is still so far off that they think it’s unlikely it
will affect their choice of car for a few years yet. However,
some motorists do appear to be rethinking their purchasing
decisions: 8% said that they would be more likely to buy a new
petrol/diesel car now in order to get ahead of the ban, although
a further 10% noted that they are now less likely to purchase a
new petrol or diesel vehicle following the
announcement.
Similar trends can be seen in the second-hand market
– one in 10 (10%) drivers said that they are more likely to buy a
used petrol or diesel car than they were before the announcement,
while 6% said they are now less likely to do so.
Simon Benson, Director of Motoring Services
at AA Cars,
says: “An ongoing stream of negative press and
blanket legislation around diesel and petrol vehicles has made UK
drivers rather jumpy when it comes to buying new cars. This is
laid bare in the October SMMT figures, which saw a double-digit
drop off in new car registrations - with diesels, in particular,
noting a 30% decline.
“This research lends some insight into why consumer
confidence is dwindling. With inflation creeping northwards and
Brexit uncertainty weighing on consumer purse-strings, British
drivers are increasingly concerned that buying a new car isn’t
the investment it once was.
“2040 might be a long way in the future, but the ban
on sales of petrols and diesels helps add to the picture that the
days of emitting vehicles are numbered. More needs to be done to
improve the picture of cleaner diesel models – or we risk talking
the new car market into deeper
trouble.”
- ENDS -
Notes to Editors:
Populus interviewed 18,633 AA members on the
AA-Populus online panel between 17th and 24th October 2017.
Populus is a founder member of the British Polling Council and
abides by its rules.
