THE news that car sales have plummeted to a six-year low is “a big concern” for Swindon, politicians claim.

New data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has revealed that new car sales last year fell for the first time in six years, with demand for diesel cars plunging by almost a fifth.

With 2.5 million cars registered in 2017, which corresponds to a 5.7 per cent drop from 2016, politicians in Swindon have called on the government to safeguard the country’s car industry.

The Swindon Labour Group leader, Coun Jim Grant, said: “The announcement on a drop in car sales figure is a big concern given the importance of Honda and BMW as employers in our town.

“The British car industry is a vital part of our national economy, and particularly Swindon’s economy. Thousands of jobs are locked up in this industry in Swindon.”

With BMW and Honda, the town boasts two of the largest car manufacturers in the UK.

SMMT blamed the sales fall on declining business and consumer confidence.

Coun Grant added: “The government’s mismanagement of the economy and mishandling of the Brexit negotiations has shaken consumer and business confidence and it’s concerning that the sales of new cars are falling.

“It’s time for the government to give the British consumers and business more certainty and create the right conditions of car manufacturing growth.”

Nearly 5,000 people are employed across BMW’s plants in Swindon and Oxford, and Hams Hall in Warwickshire.

However, neither BMW nor Honda wished to comment on what the decline in sales means for the workforce in Swindon.

A spokesman from BMW MINI said: “Despite challenging trading conditions in the UK new car market, in which sales were down by six per cent in 2017, MINI outperformed the wider market and maintained particularly strong consumer retail sales.

“The brand’s overall UK market share grew from 2.56 per cent in 2016 to 2.68 per cent in 2017.”

Honda said that its 4,000 “associates” in Swindon play “a key part in global operations”.

A spokesman from Honda said: “Since 2016, Honda has been the global production hub for the 10th generation Civic hatchback.

“Honda builds and exports to over 70 global markets. Being a global manufacturer helps mitigate the risk of fluctuations in individual markets.

“Throughout the launch of the new Civic and the Civic Type R, both models have been incredibly well received across all our markets.”