Sales of used cars expected to slump
Page 1 of 2 ......... 5:00AM Saturday November 10, 2007
By Mathew Dearnaley
Used car dealers are braced for a dramatic slump in sales after New Year's Day as old imports are banned by a rule aimed against deadly air pollution.
Even if the Government heeds advice from officials to soften the immediate impact of the rule on petrol cars, the Independent Motor Vehicle Dealers Association expects sales next year to tumble to half their existing annual level of about 125,000 used imports.
As for diesel vehicles - over which the officials are holding a harder line because of the extra harm to health from particulate emissions - association chief David Vinsen says Ministry of Transport research shows the trade in used models will be "in effect eliminated" by a scarcity of supply and unaffordable prices.
He warns of financial pain for small businesses relying on second-hand vans and specialist vehicles.
Government officials are not denying new emission standards yet to be approved by ministers will have a chilling impact on sales, but deny claims by Mr Vinsen's organisation and the Motor Trade Association that they risk causing more pollution by forcing people to keep older vehicles running for longer.
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