UK new car registrations rose for the second consecutive month in June, with the fleet sector leading the way.
Overall registrations were up by 6.7% year-on-year last month, with fleet registrations up by 8.5%, while private registrations were up by 5.9%, and business registrations – classed as those to firms with fewer than 25 vehicles – down by 15.8%.
In terms of fuel mix, there was strong year-on-year growth in pure EV registrations, which rose by 39.1%. However, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which publishes the data, noted that the resulting 24.8% market share was still down on the level specified by the UK Government’s ZEV mandate.
Plug-in hybrid registrations were up by 28.8%, for an 11.2% market share, while hybrids were down by 8.5%, taking 12.5% of the market.
Petrol car registrations fell by 4.2%, for a 46% market share, while diesels were up by 0.2%, accounting for 5.6% of the market.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “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, yet it remains below mandated levels.
“As we have seen in other countries, government incentives can supercharge the market transition, without which the climate change ambitions we all share will be under threat.”
