EV and hybrid sales grew by 21 per cent in July

The sale of electric and hybrid vehicles rose by 21.0 per cent in July, with market share of these vehicles reaching a record 6.5 per cent, according to recent SMMT figures.

Growth was particularly strong for plug-in hybrids, up by a third (33.5%), while hybrid registrations grew 17.5 per cent, followed by battery electric cars, up 2.4 per cent.

Petrol demand grew by 20.1 per cent while diesel registrations fell by -24.4 per cent.

163,898 new cars were registered in Julyh as the market stabilised following a turbulent first six months.

Although registrations by businesses with fleets of 25 cars or fewer fell by -10.2 per cent, demand from private buyers was up by 0.1 per cent on the same month in 2017. Meanwhile, large fleets grew by 2.6 per cent.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “The feel-good factor from a sun and sport-packed July, combined with some fantastic deals on a raft of exciting new models, clearly helped keep showrooms relatively busy last month. It’s great to see alternatively fuelled vehicles benefiting from this growth, and government’s acknowledgement of the vital role new-tech diesel will play in its Road to Zero strategy should help more even more motorists benefit from the latest, safest and low emission technology over the coming months.”