The UK new automotive market fell for the second time this 12 months, down by -6% in October to 144,288 new registrations.
Declines have been recorded throughout all purchaser sorts, with fleets falling for the second time this 12 months, down -1.7%, and the low-volume enterprise market declining -12.8%.
Non-public purchases continued their two-year decline, down -11.8%, in keeping with the newest figures from the Society of Motor Producers and Merchants (SMMT).
The autumn was pushed by double-digit drops in petrol and diesel automobile deliveries, down -14.2% and -20.5% respectively.
Nevertheless, uptake of hybrid electrical autos and plug-in hybrid electrical autos additionally fell, down -1.6% and -3.2%.
Battery electrical autos (BEVs) have been the one powertrain to file progress, with a raft of recent fashions driving the strongest progress this 12 months, up 24.5% to succeed in a 20.7% share of the market.
UK new automotive patrons now have greater than 125 completely different BEV fashions to select from – an uplift of 38% over the past 10 months.1 Whereas it stays the case that the typical BEV has a better upfront value than an ICE equal, widening alternative and large producer discounting imply that round one in 5 BEV fashions now has a decrease buy value than the typical petrol or diesel automotive, particularly for patrons in a position to benefit from schemes resembling wage sacrifice.2
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Government, stated: “Huge producer funding in mannequin alternative and market assist helps make the UK the second largest EV market in Europe.
“That transition, nonetheless, should not perversely decelerate the discount of carbon emissions from street transport.
“EVs already work for many people and businesses, but to shift the entire market at the pace demanded requires significant intervention on incentives, infrastructure and regulation.”
