Business

UK cars 'among best maintained in the world'

A new report says UK cars are among the best kept in the world
A new report says UK cars are among the best kept in the world A new report says UK cars are among the best kept in the world

UK cars are among the best kept in the world, according to a new study.

Annual spending on the service and repair of a UK car is an average of £695 - that's 12 per cent more than the global figure, the report by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.

The research also found there are fewer cars in disrepair, generating excess pollution or needing new brakes on UK roads compared to many other countries.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: "The UK's after-market is one of the most competitive in the world and plays a critical role in keeping the country's 30 million-plus cars roadworthy.

"Robust competition and a strong independent sector have helped reduce the cost of vehicle ownership in the UK and provided greater choice to consumers.

"For this growth to be sustained, however, the sector must stay abreast of evolving vehicle technologies and changing mobility patterns."

The report calculated that the after-market sector generates £12.2 billion for the UK and supports 345,000 jobs.

The SMMT report noted that spending on personal cars is often lower than the overall average, with fleet and leasing companies being more likely to follow the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedules.

The UK aftermarket is already the fourth largest in Europe by car parc size, with more than 30 million vehicles in use requiring regular servicing and maintenance work, and it is set to overtake France to take third place by 2022.

By the same measure, it is also the eighth largest sector of its kind in the world - bigger than those in Brazil, Korea, Canada, and even India.