‘Strong performance' for UK car market in June
UK new car registrations rose 11.4% in June to reach 213,166 units, the best performance for the month since 2019, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Growth was recorded across all sectors, with registrations by private buyers up 12.5%, fleet deliveries increasing by 10.5% and the smaller business segment posting a 17.1% rise.
The uplift was driven entirely by electrified vehicles, thanks to manufacturer investment, as well as an expanded pool of brands now operating in the UK.
Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) took 12.5% of the market, while hybrids (HEVs) accounted for 14%. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) saw the most significant growth to take a 30% share.
Mike Hawes, SMMT CEO, said, “June’s performance is very strong, showing EV uptake is growing, with battery electric cars reaching their highest market share this year and more than half of buyers choosing electrified models. But even these record levels are still not enough to meet mandated targets. Manufacturers are investing billions developing and bringing the vehicles to market – and spending billions more to sell them, yet the market is still not moving fast enough. Reforming the mandate now is essential not just to keep the transition on track but to protect the UK’s competitiveness, attract investment and safeguard jobs.”
Vehicle manufacturing directly contributes £85 billion turnover and £18 billion value-added to the UK economy, with the wider automotive industry worth £400 billion, according to SMMT. Around 188,000 people are employed directly in manufacturing and 830,000 in total across the wider automotive industry.
Graphic: SMMT
