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The number of new cars registered in the UK last month was the lowest in June since 1996, new figures have revealed, with supply shortages hampering the automotive industry.
The data, released this morning by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), showed that 140,958 vehicles were registered, down 45,180 (24.3%) on the year before. This made it the weakest June in 26 years.
The ongoing shortages of essential components, such as semiconductors, is being exacerbated by pandemic restrictions in China, the SMMT said, as well as restrictions caused by the war in Ukraine.
In the UK, diesel cars saw the biggest decline, with registrations nearly halving from 15,027 in 2021 to 8003 (46.7%). Plug-in hybrids took the next largest hit seeing just 7714 cars registered this year, down 36.5% (12,139).
Petrol cars were again the most popular, with 62,005 registrations this year. However, it too saw a decline, with 24,406 fewer cars registered compared to 2021 (86,411).
Yet, battery electric cars were the only segment to record a growth, up 2895 (14.6%) from 19,842 to 22,737. Their market share also grew to 16.1%. Petrol still dominated at 44%.
For the year so far, new car registrations have fallen by -11.9% (107,894) to 802,079 units. This, the SMMT notes, makes it the weakest first half year performance since 1992 – bar 2020, when the world was in the midst of the Covid pandemic.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said, “The semiconductor shortage is stifling the new car market even more than last year’s lockdown. Electric vehicle demand continues to be the one bright spot, as more electric cars than ever take to the road, but while this growth is welcome it is not yet enough to offset weak overall volumes, which has huge implications for fleet renewal and our ability to meet overall carbon reduction targets.
“With motorists facing rising fuel costs, however, the switch to an electric car makes ever more sense and the industry is working hard to improve supply and prioritise deliveries of these new technologies given the savings they can afford drivers.”
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