British car registrations dropped 20.5% in September compared with the same month a year earlier following the introduction of new emissions standards, industry figures showed today.
In the year to date, car sales were down 7.5% compared with the first nine months of 2017, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.
On September 1, the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure came into force in the European Union, which led some brands to incentivise sales in August, pulling forward demand.
"These are exceptional circumstances with similar declines seen in other major European markets," SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said.
September is a key selling month in Britain as one of only two occasions when a new licence plate series is introduced.
Europe's second-largest car market has also been hit by double-digit drops in diesel sales due to uncertainty over government policy and a subsequent levy hike, SMMT has previously said.
Since hitting record highs in 2015 and 2016, car registrations have fallen in Britain, also impacted by Britain's imminent departure from the European Union, the SMMT has said.
