Clean vehicles account for one in three models available in showrooms

As showrooms reopen today (12 April), buyers will be welcomed with the widest ever choice of zero-emission capable cars ever – accounting for one in three available models, according to the SMMT.

New vehicle uptake is crucial to the UK reaching its emission reduction goals, as older, less efficient cars are taken off the road and replaced by the latest lower emission ones. The average new car in 2020 emitted -21.7% less CO2 than its 2010 counterpart, helping the country and the industry meet their respective climate change targets.

Despite the variety available and anticipated consumer demand, the industry has warned that a full recovery by the end of the year remains highly challenging. New car registrations during Q1 2021 were -37.1% down on the average for 2010-2019,3 and for levels to return to ‘normal’ by the end of the year would require keys to a new car being handed over every 12 seconds.4

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: "After one of the hardest years in living memory for everyone, reopening showrooms today takes the handbrake off UK Auto. With the widest and greenest choice of cars ever seen, unleashing pent up consumer demand can accelerate the industry’s recovery and that of the economy. As the automotive sector counts the cost of £22.2 billion lost in turnover during the pandemic, we hope today marks the start of that recovery, as well as giving consumers ever more choice for their motoring needs."