UK new car sales fell 3 per cent in October

British new car registrations fell by an annual 3 per cent in October, preliminary data released by a car industry body showed on Monday.

Sales have been hit in recent months by more stringent emissions rules disrupting the supply of vehicles, double-digit drops in diesel demand and uncertainty around Brexit, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has said.

Demand in Europe’s second-largest autos market fell by around 7 per cent in the first 10 months of the year, the body said.

The SMMT will publish the final figures for October at 0900 GMT.