FLEET diesel sales dropped for the sixth month in succession despite manufacturers ploughing billions of pounds into launching new diesel engine technology. Although total new car diesel sales increased from 25,553 in June last year to 26,560 last month, fleet diesel sales dropped 2.9% year-on-year from 15,455 to 15,005. In the first six months of this year, total diesel sales were 8.1% down at 164,139 with fleet sales down 11.9% at 92,670.

Manufacturers appear almost at a loss to explain the decline in diesel but Citroen's view that it is due to uninformed and outdated anti-diesel opinions would appear to be the most logical. Elsewhere in Europe diesel sales are booming. Top 10 best-selling fleet diesel manufacturers in June were: Peugeot 3,599, Ford 2,638, Vauxhall 2,016, VW 1,806, Citroen 1,018, Renault 915, Rover 535, Audi 429, Skoda 307, Nissan 298. Best-selling fleet models were: Peugeot 306 1,657, Peugeot 406 1,419, Ford Focus 864, Vauxhall Vectra 822, Vauxhall Astra 801, Ford Mondeo 722, VW Golf 678, VW Passat 663, Citroen Xsara 511, Renault Laguna 453.