British drivers spend ￡21.1 billion on service and repair every year: Figures suggest UK cars are the world's best kept

摘要

The latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows that British cars are among the best maintained in the world, with UK motorists spending a collective ￡21.1 billion a year on servicing and repair. The data, which was released on the eve of the inaugural Automechanika Birmingham, forms the basis of the first official industry analysis of the UK automotive aftermarket. It also comes at the same time that Sainsbury's bank has released data suggesting the average annual cost of running a car is around ￡2,197.42, 22 per cent - or ￡622 - less than 2013. The main reason for this change is that the cost of fuel has fallen by 37.8 per cent during this period. The SMMT report, "The Importance of the Aftermarket to the UK Economy", was commissioned by SMMT and produced by independent research consultancy Frost & Sullivan. It reveals that UK consumers spend an average ￡695.39 on car maintenance every year - some 12 per cent higher than the average global spend per car of ￡621.62. The report also states that compared with other markets there are fewer cars in disrepair, generating excess pollution or needing new brakes on British roads.