The variety of new vehicles offered in July was up 28.3% versus July 2022, marking the twelfth consecutive month of registrations progress for the reason that market was hit by COVID disruption and provide points.

In July 143,921 new vehicles have been registered, in response to the most recent figures from the Society of Motor Producers and Merchants (SMMT), which famous that this was the very best July efficiency since 2020, when pent-up demand for brand spanking new vehicles was unleashed following three months of lockdown throughout the pandemic.

The very best-selling automotive was the Ford Puma, with 4,124 registrations. It stays the highest performer of 2023, recording 26,889 registrations within the first seven months of the yr, nicely forward of the following automotive, Vauxhall Corsa.

Nonetheless Volkswagen was the general prime model of July, outselling nearest rival Ford by 1,816 vehicles. And its sister model Audi was solely 167 models behind Ford in third place.

New Chinese language model GWM Ora outsold Abarth, the sporty Fiat sister model.

Firm registrations drove the expansion, as uptake by massive fleets elevated 61.9% to 80,961 models and enterprise registrations rose 28.7% to 2,915 new autos.

Personal demand remained secure at 60,045 models (up 0.3%).

Hybrid (HEV) volumes grew, though their total market share fell to 11.3%. Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) registrations had a big uplift for the second month in a row as uptake rose 79.1% to account for 8.1% of the market.

The largest improve, nonetheless, was for battery electrical autos (BEVs), which recorded an 87.9% improve to account for 16.0% of all new registrations for the month, a market share broadly according to that seen up to now this yr.

The most recent market outlook now anticipates total new automotive registrations to succeed in 1.847 million by the top of the yr, a 0.9% rise on expectations in April. Of those, BEVs are anticipated to take a 17.8% market share or 330,000 models, a slight lower on April’s outlook, whereas PHEVs are set to realize 7.2% of the market with 134,000 models.

Trying additional forward, the outlook for 2024 has been downgraded marginally by -0.7% to 1.951 million models, reflecting wider issues about the price of residing.

BEVs are anticipated to realize an total 22.6% market share subsequent yr reaching 440,000 models. With an extra 155,000 PHEVs anticipated to be registered, commanding 7.9% of the market, plug-in autos are prone to account for 3 in each 10 new vehicles registered in 2024.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief govt, stated: “The trade stays dedicated to assembly the UK’s zero emission deadlines and continues to make the investments to get us there. Selection and innovation available in the market are rising, so it’s encouraging to see extra folks switching on to the advantages of driving electrical.

“With inflation, rising prices of residing and a zero emission automobile mandate that can dictate the market coming subsequent yr, nonetheless, customers should be given each attainable incentive to purchase.

“Authorities should pull each lever, subsequently, to make shopping for, operating and, particularly, charging an EV inexpensive and sensible for each driver in each a part of the nation.”