“A much needed improvement in the short to medium term may therefore just coincide with the critical September new registration plates, as the balance between retention and replacement narrows, and low interest rates continue to further assist. Whilst the current month’s outlook is therefore meagre, I expect to see a real improvement over the next quarter.

“However, from a consumer perspective, it’s a good time to buy a new car with the continuing low interest rates, and with the weakened demand, an abundance of preferential dealer offers.

“On a further positive note, with Government grants available toward the purchase of electric cars, and the UK tax system continuing to encourage consumers to ‘go green’, choosing a lower emission vehicle has never been more appealing. The UK now has one of the lowest, if not the lowest, average passenger vehicle emission figures in the world.”