A fairly strong second quarter now means that cumulative new car registrations are only 6.3% behind last year’s total.

Almost two thirds of the shortfall are accounted for by the Business and Fleet sectors. However, rather than economic conditions being responsible, some pundits believe that uncertainties surrounding future restrictions and tax rates for diesel-fuelled vehicles have delayed purchasing decisions.

Consequently, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders is urging the government to formulate a “technology-neutral strategy giving motorists confidence to buy [the] right car and right technology for their needs”.

In the meantime, diesel’s year-to-date market share has dropped to just 32.6%. Uptake of pure-electric and hybrid cars is growing slowly, but only 5.5% of customers are currently opting for them.

Cumulative UK Car Registrations Q2 2018 - By Fuel Type
Fuel	2018	2017	Change	Change %
Diesel	428,612	613,985	-185,373	-30.2%
Petrol	812,535	729,168	+83,367	+11.4%
Alternative	72,847	58,658	+14,189	+24.2%
Total	1,313,994	1,401,811	-87,817	-6.3%

Compared to the previous quarter, the top ten model list looks very similar.

Unsurprisingly, the Ford Fiesta retains its customary first-place position, while the Ford Focus has moved up to third spot. Perhaps the most significant change saw the Vauxhall Mokka X being replaced by the Volkswagen Polo on the table.

The Ford Fiesta is still the UK's most popular car.

Top 10: Cumulative UK Car Registrations Q2 2018 - By Model
Position	Model	Registrations	Market Share
1	Ford Fiesta	56,415	4.3%
2	Volkswagen Golf	39,930	3.0%
3	Ford Focus	30,757	2.3%
4	Nissan Qashqai	30,066	2.3%
5	Vauxhall Corsa	28,003	2.1%
6	Mini Hatch	23,641	1.8%
7	Volkswagen Polo	22,027	1.7%
8	Ford Kuga	21,784	1.7%
9	Mercedes-Benz A-Class	20,002	1.5%
10	Mercedes-Benz C-Class	19,684	1.5%

Related posts:
Top 10: UK car sales Q1 2018
Top 10: UK car sales 2017 - winners and losers
Top 10: UK car sales 2017