New car sales collapse to record lows
It has been revealed that new car sales in March 2009 fell by a record 30.5% compared to the same period last year. The situation in the UK car manufacturing sector and car retail sector has been deteriorating for some time amid concerns for the long-term future of some of the best-known car manufacturers in the UK. Despite repeated attempts by the industry to grab the attention of the UK government, very little funding has been made available and time is now of the essence.
A scheme announced by Lord Mandelson, the business secretary, which would see a £2000 discount on a new car for each car which is scrapped by the owner has yet come into play. More and more it appears as though the UK government is promising many initiatives and new funding but often falls very short of the mark on delivery. A mixture of red tape, complacency and lack of control appears to be at the heart of the problems with the UK government.
With the vast majority of UK car manufacturing plants now on short-time and UK car retailers reporting ever falling interest there has never been a more opportune moment for the government to step in with new initiatives and new help. Arguments that private companies should be able to fund themselves fall flat when compared to the situation in the UK banking sector, and many people forget there are literally tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of jobs at risk in the UK car industry.
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