New automobile registrations elevated by 16.7% in Might, however the personal market dropped barely by 0.5% and fleets are driving the market with progress of 36.9%.

The most recent figures from the Society of Motor Producers and Merchants (SMMT) exhibits {that a} complete of 145,204 new automobiles have been registered within the month.

Battery electrical autos (BEVs) skilled vital progress, up 58.7% to 24,513 items. 

Plug-in hybrid (PHEVs) registrations elevated by 23% to 9,025 items, and hybrids (HEVs) adopted with progress of twenty-two.2% to 17,792 items.

There are actually 121,268 registered BEVs on the street in 2023 in comparison with the 92,512 on the identical level final 12 months, a 31.1% improve.

With gross sales of electrical autos rising, diesel fell from 7,614 items to five,758 (-24.4%), however petrol has risen from 56,767 items to 59,766 items (5.3%).

MORE> Market gross sales knowledge

Mike Hawes, Society of Motor Producers and Merchants (SMMT) chief govt, mentioned: “After the troublesome, Covid-constrained provide problems with the previous couple of years, it’s good to see the brand new automobile market keep its upward development and the truth that progress is, more and more, inexperienced progress is massively encouraging.

“Remodeling the market nationwide, nonetheless, and at a good higher tempo means we should improve demand and assist any reticent driver overcome any issues about electrical autos. It will require each stakeholder – trade, authorities, chargepoint operators and power firms – to play their half, accelerating funding to drive decarbonisation.”

Sue Robinson, chief govt of the Nationwide Franchised Sellers Affiliation (NFDA), mentioned: “The optimistic momentum in new automobile gross sales has continued with franchised sellers seeing robust progress throughout electrical autos, hybrids and petrol autos.

“This can be a development we anticipate to proceed via the summer season months.”

Robinson mentioned charging infrastructure nonetheless stays the “principal difficulty” on the showroom ground when sellers are advising prospects on their subsequent selection of car.

She added: “The NFDA is working intently with the UK authorities and different automotive our bodies to make sure that UK client’s issues about EVs are being addressed and we’re assured that our members will assist the UK to attain the transition.”

Ian Plummer, industrial director at Auto Dealer, mentioned that whereas it’s nice to see one other month of strong gross sales, the continued energy of the brand new automobile market will quickly rely on “substantial order progress within the electrical phase”. 

Plummer mentioned: “Gross sales of EVs are shifting in the best path however we have to see sustained momentum – lower than 10% of latest automobile enquiries are for EVs on Auto Dealer at the moment.

“To unlock mass adoption of EVs, we have to deal with the segments of society being left behind within the electrical transition. 

“Our analysis exhibits that only one fifth of ladies are contemplating an EV, against a 3rd of males.

“Girls are seeing much less details about EVs and never partaking with present promoting factors.  To be able to attain the federal government’s 2030 objective, the main target must be on changing the plenty and making EVs extra accessible throughout totally different demographics.”