New car sales decline

New figures, released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), have revealed that new car sales are at a 30-year low…

New Car Sales in Decline

It’s not looking good for new car sales in the UK, at least for now. SMMT data has revealed that they’re now at a 30-year low. Last year, total registrations were down by 2% when compared to those recorded in 2021. For perspective, it’s the worst recorded performance since 1992. The rather morose news comes at a time when the British automotive industry is struggling to recover in the (hopefully) post-Covid era.

Nevertheless, there is some good news to report within the industry. Whilst new car sales are down overall, an increasing number consist of EVs. Having overtaken diesel sales, they now sit behind petrol models in terms of popularity. EVs now make up 16.6% of the nation’s new car sales. Plug-in vehicles, in general, made up 22.9% of total sales in 2022 – representing a new record. However, the rate of growth was down when compared with the previous year. 

Government Support Required?

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, believes that the automotive industry needs significant Government support in order to truly recover. He explained, “the automotive market remains adrift of its pre-pandemic performance but could well buck wider economic trends by delivering significant growth in 2023″.

He continued, “to secure that growth – which is increasingly zero emission growth – government must help all drivers go electric and compel others to invest more rapidly in nationwide charging infrastructure. Manufacturers’ innovation and commitment have helped EVs become the second most popular car type. However, for a nation aiming for electric mobility leadership, that must be matched with policies and investment that remove consumer uncertainty over switching, not least over where drivers can charge their vehicles”. 

EV-Specific Tyres Can Improve Range By Up To 10% – https://autoservefleet.co.uk/latest-news/ev-specific-tyres-can-improve-range-by-up-to-10/

Mercedes Will Launch Its Own EV Charging Network – https://autoserve.co.uk/motoring-news/mercedes-will-launch-its-own-ev-charging-network/

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