The UK’s electric vehicle (EV) market saw a surge in August, with BEV registrations rising by 10.8% despite a downturn in sales for Tesla. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) attributed this increase to substantial discounts offered by EV manufacturers and the introduction of new models. While Tesla’s new vehicle registrations dropped by 25% to 3,013 units, other EV makers experienced success. Notably, BYD, Tesla’s main competitor, saw a staggering 1000% jump in registrations, reaching 438 units.
Despite this positive trend in EV sales, overall vehicle registrations across all fuel types declined by 1.3% in Britain last month. This decrease was primarily attributed to a 10% drop in petrol vehicle registrations. Diesel and plug-in hybrid vehicles also saw a decline, with registrations dropping by 7.3% and 12.3%, respectively.
The SMMT expects a total of 364,000 battery electric vehicles to be registered by the end of the year, capturing an 18.5% market share. August is typically a slow month for new car sales, as noted by the SMMT. However, the association believes that the introduction of the new 74 plate, coupled with attractive offers and discounts from manufacturers, will boost sales in September.
Volkswagen maintained its position as the top-selling auto brand in the UK, despite a 4% decrease in new vehicle registrations last month.
