Murky defence of diesel does Britain's troubled motor industry no credit

The emissions scandal has damaged public trust in carmakers. It is time for them to be transparent and honest about the challenges they now faceThe end-of-year sales figures have confirmed what had been becoming clear through 2017 for the UK's car industry: its austerity-defying, unique-in-Europe, five-year boom has well and truly ended. By December, a whopping 14% fewer cars were being sold than at the same time a year ago.As a barometer of economic and consumer confidence, as well as a pointer to the fortunes of one of the UK's major manufacturing industries, the dip in sales would be troubling news for any government - let alone one set on a Brexit course that the motor industry views as potentially calamitous. Furthermore, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) makes it clear that it also blames ministers for one particular trend: the 17% drop in diesel cars sold, 200,000 fewer in 2017 than the previous year. Continue reading...