Alternatively fuelled vehicles accounted for nearly 10% of all new car sales in the UK last month, a record share for the sector.
Figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) confirm that in October 2019 sales of alternatively-fuelled vehicles – battery EVs, plug-in hybrid EVs and other hybrids – amounted to 14,231.
With the rest of the new car market sliding, down 6.7% year-on-year, alternatively fuelled vehicles a new record share of the market of 9.9%.
The segment was especially driven by the battery EV market, which saw sales more than double to 3,162 in October 2019 compared to last year. Sales of plug-in hybrids, in comparison, actually fell slightly.
It’s a similar story for the year to date, with sales of battery EVs currently sitting at more than double the sales figures recorded last year. Plug-in hybrids are down some 26.7% year-on-year, while other hybrids are up 16.5%.
But a single alternatively fuelled vehicle is yet to make it into the SMMT’s list of best selling vehicles, with all of the top ten sellers petrol or diesel-based.
Mike Hawes, chief executive at the SMMT, said that despite the overall new car sale market remaining tough, the growth in alternatively fuelled cars was evidence of increasing appetite for new, cleaner technologies.
“Whether the general election delivers a ‘bounce’ to the economy remains to be seen but, with attractive deals and an ever-greater choice of low, ultra low and zero emission models arriving in the UK’s showrooms, consumers have every incentive to consider buying a new car,” he said.
