Exciting figures in June for UK new car market. One in four choose EV

May Statistics from SMMT

• The UK’s new car market grew for the second consecutive month in June, as registrations rose 6.7% to 191,316 units, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). It was the best June since 2019, helping lift first half performance 3.5% above the same period last year, although the market remains -17.9% behind pre-Covid levels.
• Despite a positive June performance, it too remained behind pre-pandemic levels, -14.4% lower than in 2019, and driven mostly by fleet activity with uptake climbing 8.5% to 114,841 units. Private retail demand grew 5.9% to 71,616 units but still accounted for just less than four in 10 new cars registered (37.4%). Business registrations fell -15.8% to 4,859 units.
• New petrol registrations declined by 4.2% and diesel volumes were flat (+0.2%), meaning their combined share of the market is now just over half (51.6%), with total electrified vehicle registrations (92,571) achieving a 48.5% market share. Registrations of vehicles with plugs rose strongly as battery electric vehicles (BEVs) jumped 39.1% to 47,354 units, equivalent to a quarter (24.8%) of the market, and  plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) grew 28.8% to 21,382 units. The market for new hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), meanwhile, fell by -8.5% to 23,835 registrations.

Statistics and commentary from SMMT