There was good news for battery electric cars market in the UK in September. The all-electric cars achieved triple-digit growth with 7,704 vehicles, up 236.4% (5,414 units) as new models boosted registrations.
With 5,179 registrations (up 22.6% year-over-year), plug-in hybrids also saw growth for the first time in six months – albeit on the back of a -22.3% decline in the same month last year.
16,932 hybrid electric cars also joined UK roads, an uplift of 0.6% compared with September of 2018.
Year-to-date PHEV registrations are now -5.2% below the same period two years ago. By comparison, popular hybrid electric and battery electric cars are up 32.4% and 125.1% on the same period.
SEPTEMBER ELECTRIFIED SALES:
| 2019 | 2018 | % change | Share-19 | Share-18 | |
| BEV | 7,704 | 2,290 | 236,4% | 2.2% | 0.7% |
| PHEV | 5,176 | 4,226 | 22,6% | 1.5% | 1.2% |
| TOTAL: | 12,880 | 6,516 | 97.7% |
NUMBERS FOR THE FIRST NINE MONTHS:
| YTD 2019 | YTD 2018 | % change | Share-19 | Share-18 | |
| BEV | 25,097 | 11,299 | 122,1% | 1.3% | 0.6% |
| PHEV | 22,773 | 32,144 | -29,2% | 1.2% | 1.7% |
| TOTAL: | 54,386 | 43,443 | 10.94% |
Overall, the UK new car market declined -2.5% in the first three quarters of the year, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
September saw modest year-on-year growth following a substantial -20.5% decline in the same month in 2018, when new emissions regulations and lack of testing capacity across Europe affected supply.
The growth, representing some 4,421 units, was not enough to recover losses of over 87,000 in last year’s important plate-change month, however, leaving the year-to-date market trailing some 49,000 units behind this time in 2018. It is also in stark contrast to other major European markets, which this September rallied in double digits.
September’s volumes were driven by the fleet sector, which grew 8.6%. Meanwhile, private demand remained stable, up 0.1%, while business registrations declined -44.8%. Diesel registrations fell -20.3%, as petrols experienced a moderate increase of 4.5%.
