In the UK car sales saw an upturn according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) during November. While this was small, the sales of electric vehicle (EV) sales have continued to be the shining light within the industry.
Ian Plummer, Auto Trader commercial director, has said that the slight uptick in retail sales last month (November) is not a sign that the new car supply issues are beginning to ease. The reason for this is that the majority of November’s registrations will have been pre-ordered months ago.
In reality, the global shortage of semi-conductors is still being keenly felt at the forecourts, holding back sales to a level well below the strong underlying demand. Despite this, electric car sales have continued to grow with zero-emission vehicle sales in the UK up 110 percent in November compared to the same month in 2020.
This continued growth of plug-in vehicle sales suggests the electric vehicle market in the UK is not only solid but the future. Hopefully, this means the transition will continue to gain pace for a cleaner future on the roads.
Ian Plummer, Auto Trader commercial director, said: “Electric vehicles (EV) have proven again to be a bright spot. Fuel anxiety, greater environmental awareness, and the ‘cool factor’ are all helping to drive sales, albeit on a relative scale.
“With new EVs costing over a third more to buy than a petrol or diesel, the ‘green premium’ means current growth is being fuelled by only the most affluent. There are evident limits to the number of car buyers who can afford today’s EVs.
“Unless the Government significantly changes its approach to financial incentives – three times smaller than those available in Europe – to make EVs affordable for the average household, its green ambitions will run out of charge long before 2030.”
