Sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are continuing to soar in a year where registrations have increased 174.6% so far.
Sales jumped 259.4% in July compared to the year before, according to figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), with 8,162 vehicles registered compared to 2,271.
BEVs scooped up 4.7% of the market share, although this is slightly less than in June 2020 where they secured 6.1% of the market share. The number of vehicles registered remained consistent, however, with 8,903 registered in June 2020, up 261.8% from the year before.
Both are, however, a drop from April which saw BEVs scoop up 32% of the market due to a huge drop in vehicle sales as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Overall, UK new car registrations rose by 11.3% in July 2020, marking the first increase this year. The SMMT explained that pent-up demand and special offers led to a reprieve for the sector, but overall registrations are still down by -41.9% or 598,054 units year-to-date.
BEVs conversely have had a good year to date, with sales increasing 174.6% overall to 39,119 vehicles compared to 14,246 in 2019.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said that whilst July’s figures are positive the industry “must be cautious” as showrooms have only just fully reopened nationwide and “there is still much uncertainty about the future”.
“By the end of September we should have a clearer picture of whether or not this is a long-term trend.”
