New car sales rise for ninth straight month
New car sales rose 13.7% in August to 94,236 units, according to the latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
This means new car registrations have grown for nine consecutive months.
Fleet registrations rose 10.1% to account for 57.2% of the market, while private demand grew 19% to comprise 40.8% of registrations. The smaller business sector, representing two per cent of the market, was up 14.5%.
In terms of fuel types, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles saw sales rise 39.8% to account for 14.5% of registrations, while hybrid electric vehicles rose 26.3% with 12.7% of the market. Pure electric vehicles increased 27.7% to claim 29.8% of overall uptake, which was the second highest monthly share of the year so far.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “August was a bright spot for the new car market and another strong month for electric car uptake, showing that motorists are responding to the huge choice and compelling offers available. But August is a low-volume month, so September will be the acid test.
“The industry is doing everything it can to help drivers switch, but mandate targets must be grounded in the reality of demand. Government’s review is the right move so we can ensure the transition is kept on track, consumer choice protected and the jobs and investment necessary to deliver net zero and economic growth are safeguarded.”
