In January, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT), new car registrations in the UK increased by 8.2% compared to January 2023. But this growth "was driven entirely by sales to fleets ".
What was the 18th consecutive increase - for a total of 142,876 units - hides, according to Smmt, "a change in the market with private individuals feeling the crisis and buying fewer cars and fleets dominating the market with a share of 63%, 2%".
Fleets, reports the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders, "are also entirely responsible for the increase in registrations of electric cars (+41.7%) while those by private individuals decreased by 25.1%".
Excluding Bev registrations, those of petrol cars increased by 7.4% and those of Phev models by 31.1%, while registrations of pure hybrids decreased by 1.2% and diesel ones by 10.1 %.
To push for the purchase of electric cars by the 2035 deadline, SMMT asks the Government to halve the VAT on electric models.
"It took just over 20 years to reach the milestone of one million electric vehicles - said SMMT head Mike Hawes - but with the right policies, we can double that success in just another two years".
“The growth of the market is currently in the hands of businesses and fleets. To reduce carbon emissions the Government must therefore use the next budget to support private buyers of electric vehicles by temporarily halving VAT. Which could stimulate growth economic and help everyone make the transition."
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