New-car sales stable

The UK new car market remained stable in August and recorded 84,575 sales, down 1.3 per cent, or 1,082 units, from the same period a year ago, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Continuing the recent trend, fleet purchases again drove the market and accounted for six in every 10 cars registered last month, or 51,329 units, despite a 1.2 per cent drop compared with the same month last year.

Registrations by private buyers were flat, up 0.2 per cent units to 32,110, while business registrations fell by 30.3 per cent to 1,136 units.

Petrol and diesel uptake fell by 10.1 per cent and 7.3 per cent respectively, but combined still represented 56.8 per cent of all new cars sold in August. 

Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) registrations declined 12.3 per cent year on year to secure a 6.8 per cent market share, but sales of conventional hybrids jumped by 36.1 per cent, to account for 13.8 per cent of activity.

Battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations were also on the up, climbing 10.8 per cent to reach a market share of 22.6 per cent in August. This was the category’s highest monthly figure since December 2022, when it was 32.9 per cent.

Mike Hawes, pictured, SMMT chief executive, says: “August’s EV growth is welcome, but it’s always a very low volume month and so subject to distortions ahead of September’s number plate change. 

“Encouraging a mass market shift to EVs remains a challenge, however, and urgent action must be taken to help buyers overcome affordability issues and concerns about charge-point provision.”