Interest in green vehicles growing

Date: 6/4/2011

Green and fuel-efficient cars are proving increasing popular with motorists, new figures suggest.

According to the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI), records from the first quarter of 2011 reveal the lowest average new car emissions ever recorded, falling 3.4 per cent to 140.3 g/km.

Sue Robinson, Director of the RMI National Franchised Dealers Association, said it is predictable that consumers are reviewing the cost of running and maintaining a car, along with investing in a new one, at this current time.

"With the rising fuel prices teamed with the current economic climate they are looking for cars that are cost effective in the long run. This in turn has seen CO2 emissions produced by new cars drop significantly," she explained.

Ms Robinson noted that this trend will continue as green vehicles become increasingly popular choices.

Overall, she claimed that the automobile market was performing better than expected, despite sales being down compared to 2010.

The European Commission recently announced its proposals to phase out conventionally fuelled cars in densely populated cities over the next two decades.

Posted by Nick Anderson