Fuel crisis putting customers off buying a car, survey finds

T

he ongoing fuel crisis could prevent some consumers from making a vehicle purchase, according to a survey by Close Brothers Motor Finance. The research found that a fifth (20%) of respondents are put off buying a car as a result of the fuel crisis. A third of people (35%) blame motorists’ stockpiling for the shortages; a further 27% said the crisis has made them think about purchasing an electric vehicle sooner than planned.

It is not just car buying that is impacted; many have more immediate concerns. More than one in ten (11%) admit they are scared to drive anywhere in case they run out of fuel, while 9% say the shortage impacts their ability to get to work. One in six (17%) say they are worried that there will be many more fuel shortages in the future.

“The fuel shortage is causing panic among consumers, but it could be the catalyst for motorists to go green,” said Close Brothers Motor Finance MD Seán Kemple. “The ongoing fuel crisis could be the tipping point for consumers who are steering towards non-carbon vehicle options. The UK car industry is at a pivotal point in its journey to electrification, with sales of alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) continuing to surge.

“But for this trend to continue, we need to see the infrastructure in place to support AFV ownership. We are still languishing in the tens of thousands of much needed electric car charging points – we need to get to 2 million to meet the ambitious 2030 goals.”