British car buyers are abandoning flashy vehicles in favor of CHEAP brands.
According to experts, British car buyers are abandoning flashy vehicles in favor of more affordable models as they feel the pinch of the cost-of-living crisis.
Vehicles that offer good value for money dominate the sales charts, a trend that is becoming clear following the release of the most recent SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) UK car sales data.
According to Stuart Masson, Editorial Director at The Car Expert, the UK’s automotive consumer advice site, “drivers are turning away from oversized diesel leviathans and instead choosing smaller or fully electric vehicles.”
Value brands such as Dacia and MG are increasing their market share.
Large SUVs are largely absent from the top of the sales charts.
“As consumers increasingly feel the burden of rising living costs, pressures could put strain on household budgets, particularly for those locked into longer finance deals, which are now typically four years rather than three,” Masson added.
The ultra-luxury vehicle market remains robust because wealthy buyers do not face the same financial constraints.
“It’s fascinating how, after years of cars getting bigger and bigger, we’re now seeing habits shift as drivers opt for vehicles that are smaller and, in many cases, cheaper.” They want a vehicle that meets their needs and, as the cost of living rises, they are reducing their spending.
Electric car sales are also booming, with the market share representing more than 12% of total sales in May, an increase of nearly 18% over the same month last year.
In other automotive news, a parking space in London’s posh Belgravia is for sale for an eye-watering price – the cost of a three-bedroom house in Wales.
A pub landlord also told that she slaps sarcastic cards on cars, congratulating “selfish” drivers on their poor parking.
During the lockdown, Mary Thornton-Smith began handing out cards that read, ‘Congratulations – your vehicle has blocked the pavement,’ near her micropub.
The landlady of The Witch’s Brew in Southampton, Hants, is fed up with the council’s inaction on drivers who block sidewalks.
