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The UK’s new car market registered unprecedented growth last month, expanding by almost a quarter, up 24%.
According to new data from the SMMT (the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders), the UK recorded 149,247 vehicles in April, the strongest growth in the sector since before the pandemic.
Industry analysts report that growth was seen across every segment of the market, with fleet registrations reflecting the strongest gains. Fleet demand climbed by 26.8%, reaching 90,462 units. Private retail also showed promising growth, increasing by 20.2% to 56,116 registrations, while the smaller business segment recorded a 15% rise to 2,669 units.
When broken down by fuel type, petrol vehicles continued to be popular, with registrations up 8.2%. In contrast, diesel models experienced a modest decline of 1%.
The outlook was sunny for the electric segment, which accounted for over half of total registrations, at 53.2%. Plug-in hybrids were also a key contributor to this growth, with volumes surging by 46.4% and capturing a 13.8% share of the market.
According to the data, the best-selling car of April was the Ford Puma.
Despite growth in the EV segment, the SMMT has warned that the current trajectory is still not enough to keep the country in line with the Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) mandate and falls “significantly short” of current targets.
The UK has stayed firm in its decision to ban the sale of all new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035, despite the dilution of EV targets by the European Union and major walk-backs to EV policy by the Trump administration.
Mike Hawes, SMMT CEO was quick to qualify this development, saying: “April’s rebound is welcome, but underlines just how significantly fiscal changes can influence the market. Two million electric car registrations is a considerable milestone to celebrate, although natural demand is still well below the level demanded by the mandate.”
Hawes argued for the need for a revision of the current ZEV mandate, suggesting that if the UK did not “align policy with market realities”, the UK’s “attractiveness as a vehicle market and manufacturing hub will be put at risk.”
Elsewhere, EV enthusiasts have called for conviction and commitment to electrification targets, despite market uncertainty and the lack of a unified global approach.
The Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, demonstrated the UK government’s conviction in the ZEV mandate, saying in a public announcement:
“This Government is giving British car makers certainty and support on the transition to electric vehicles, as we set out plans to back industry in the face of global economic headwinds.”
April’s rebound is a welcome boost to the British automotive sector amidst rising oil prices and global uncertainty. Despite this silver lining, the UK still has a long way to go if it is to meet the government’s ZEV mandate as it stands.
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