According to industry data, new car sales in Great Britain increased by 7.1% in May, the best result for this month since 2019. The figure was supported by relatively resilient retail demand, with particular momentum for electric vehicles. Overall, Reuters reports, new car registrations reached 160,662 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders or SMMT, reflecting a market that continues to grow even in an still complex economic context.
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Best May in the UK market from 2019 to date
Electric vehicles are primarily driving the change. BEVs have indeed increased by 34.2%, representing the category with the most significant growth among plug-in cars. In parallel, adoption is accelerating in the rest of Europe: rising fuel costs, largely fueled by global oil shocks linked to geopolitical events, are pushing many consumers to seek more convenient and lower-cost alternatives. According to Melanie Lane, CEO of Pod, a charging infrastructure provider, growing interest is now transforming into concrete demand from buyers.
The electric transition continues
Despite positive signs, the transition lags behind targets. The share of BEVs stands at approximately 24% of total sales year-to-date, still below the 33% target set for the current phase, as highlighted by SMMT, which points out the difficulties in the required adoption rate. Mike Hawes, CEO of SMMT, linked the gap to the UK’s long-term expectations, also recalling the existence of support measures: in May, private registrations indeed grew by 17.2%, thanks to more model options, competitive dealer offers, and government incentives such as the Electric Car Grant.
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