Around half of new car buyers opted for a Euro-6 compliant car in the UK last month, ahead of new compliance rules, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

From September 1, all new car models sold in the EU must meet the Euro-6 emissions compliance standard.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “With 100 days still to go until the new Euro-6 standard becomes mandatory, new car buyers are shifting to these next-generation vehicles. This is the result of huge investment from manufacturers in clean technology – and the quicker we get these Euro-6 cars onto the roads, the quicker we’ll see improvements in air quality.”

Next-generation Euro-6 technology vehicles not only boast the lowest CO2 emissions on record, but they emit virtually zero particulate matter, while nitrogen oxides emissions are more than half those of previous generation motors built in the past five years.