UK car sales have reached their highest level for May since before the Covid-19 pandemic, driven by strong growth from Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers BYD and Chery. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), car registrations rose by 7% to 160,662 during the month.
Electric Vehicle Sales Surge
Sales of battery electric cars grew the fastest, accounting for more than 27% of the market. Chery sold 8,200 cars in May across its Chery, Jaecoo, and Omoda brands, while BYD sold 5,200. Petrol remains the most popular fuel type with 66,223 new sales, representing 41.2% of the market share. However, electric vehicles saw a massive 34.2% uplift in sales, with almost 44,000 new electric cars registered, taking the powertrain's total market share to 27.3%.
Industry Reaction
Mike Hawes, SMMT’s chief executive, said: “Britain’s car buyers are responding to a market offering more choice than ever, from both new and familiar brands, resulting in a robust May.” Sue Robinson, chief executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association, which represents retailers, described the figures as “encouraging” and noted that consumers were “increasingly considering lower-emission motoring options due to the continued high price of fuel.”
Ben Nelmes, chief executive of New AutoMotive, said there was “real consumer and private buyer momentum behind electric vehicles.” He added: “Manufacturers have invested billions to deliver the cars drivers want, and drivers are buying them.”
Future Outlook
Jamie Hamilton, automotive partner and head of electric vehicles at Deloitte, suggested that EV sales could continue to grow as drivers are put off by expensive fuel prices. He stated: “The number of consumers expecting fuel prices to be higher next month remains well above the long-term average, with three quarters of consumers anticipating a rise in the cost compared to half just two months ago. This will continue to play a role in influencing consumer purchasing decisions, whether it's the affordability of petrol and diesel vehicles, or the attractiveness of going all-electric.”
