Diesel boom finally falters

A TWO-year boom in diesel sales is showing signs of slowing down, latest figures show. Although the SMMT predicts 29% of sales will be diesel by the end of this year and 31% by the end of 2004, growth in total diesel sales is slowing.

For the year-to-date, total diesel sales are now 14.8% ahead of last year and account for 26% of the total market. In the fleet sector, diesel sales are up 4.14% at 113,360 and account for about 31% of the market.

But in contrast to months of 100%-plus sales increases, the increase in demand so far this year is more conservative in the fleet market.

Ford leads the way so far this year with 20,579, a rise of 8.45% but only Volvo, in ninth place, is recording a sales increase of more than 20%. Its sales are 32% ahead of last year at 3,394.