Back-to-back sales growth

The UK’s new car market grew for the second consecutive month in June after registrations increased 6.7 per cent from a year ago to 191,316 units, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 

It was the best June for the industry since 2019 and lifted the first half performance 3.5 per cent above the same period last year.

SMMT adds that last month’s numbers were driven mostly by fleet activity, with uptake climbing 8.5 per cent year-on-year to 114,841 units.

Private retail demand grew 5.9 per cent over the same period to 71,616 units but still accounted for less than four in every 10 new cars registered, while business registrations fell 15.8 per cent to 4,859 units.

Nissan’s Qashqai, pictured, was the top model in June with 5,008 sales. Next was the Ford Puma on 4,419 and Tesla’s Model Y with 4,181.

Demand for petrol models fell 4.2 per cent and diesel volumes were flat after nudging up just 0.2 per cent, giving them a combined market share of 51.6 per cent in June.

Electrified vehicle registrations came in at 92,571 to clinch 48.5 per cent of the market.

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) jumped 39.1 per cent year-on-year to 47,354 units, equivalent to 24.8 per cent of the market, and plug-in hybrids grew 28.8 per cent to 21,382 units. 

Meanwhile, the market for hybrids dropped 8.5 per cent to 23,835 registrations.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, says: “A second consecutive month of growth for the new car market is good news, as is the positive performance of EVs. 

“That EV growth, however, is still being driven by substantial industry support with manufacturers using every channel and unsustainable discounting to drive activity.”