Four in ten cars purchased in July were electrified

According to the latest figures from the SMMT, electrified vehicle (hybrid, PHEV and BEV) demand outpaced the overall market in July, accounting for four in 10 (42.0%) new cars registered in the month.

Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) uptake increased by 31.4% to achieve a 14.5% market share, while plug-in hybrids (PHEV) grew 12.4% to take 8.9% of registrations.

Battery electric vehicle (BEV) volumes, meanwhile, were up 18.8%, resulting in an overall market share of 18.5%. While the private share of the BEV market continues to fall – 17.2%, compared with 20.3% last year – private BEV volumes did increase by a marginal 0.9%. Overall, BEVs account for 16.8% of the new car market, year to date.

Overall the UK new car market rose by 2.5% in July, and as has been the pattern for the year, July’s growth was sustained entirely by the fleet sector, which recorded a 13.0% increase in registrations to achieve a 62.0% market share. Private demand continued to diminish, falling by -11.1% to account for 36.2% of deliveries in the month, although the growing popularity of salary sacrifice purchasing will contribute to this decline.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: "Two years of new car market growth against a backdrop of a turbulent economy is testament to the sector’s resilience and the attractiveness of the deals on offer. Weakening private retail demand, however, particularly for EVs and despite generous manufacturer discounts, is the over-riding concern. More people than ever are buying and driving EVs but we still need the pace of change to quicken, else the UK’s climate change ambitions are threatened and manufacturers’ ability to hit regulated EV targets are at risk. Achieving market transition at the pace demanded requires greater support for consumers and, with the all-important new numberplate month of September beckoning, action on incentives and infrastructure is needed now."