September saw car buyers displaying greater demand for diesel cars compared to electric vehicles (EVs). This trend has prompted industry professionals to renew their calls for increased political support for electric vehicles.
Car manufacturers fear that the market is developing too slowly to meet the country's strict environmental requirements, which must be fulfilled by 2025. Specifically, 22 percent of all new cars sold in England must be pure electric vehicles by the end of this year.
Despite these targets, private diesel car sales increased by 17.1 percent compared to September last year, representing an additional 1,367 vehicles.
This figure stands in stark contrast to an overall 7 percent decline in diesel sales over the past year. Electric vehicles experienced a modest increase in private demand, with a 3.6 percent growth, equivalent to 410 more registrations during the same period.
The uptick in private EV registrations can be attributed to manufacturers and dealers offering unusually high discounts, according to Autocar, as they chase the 22 percent sales target required by legislation.
However, the majority of EV sales in England aren't driven by private buyers but by companies that can secure significant tax benefits by electrifying their fleets. Of the 56,387 electric vehicles sold in England during September, 76 percent were registered as company cars.
Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), finds these numbers concerning, suggesting that EV sales aren't growing fast enough to meet government requirements. "While September's record result for EVs is positive, a closer look at the figures raises serious concerns," says Hawes.
The legally mandated targets refer to the British government's emission regulations, which impose substantial fines on car manufacturers who fail to make at least 22 percent of their annual sales electric vehicles.
Overall, the British car market experienced growth in September following a quiet August, though the improvement was modest.
According to SMMT, 275,239 new cars were sold in September, representing a 1 percent increase compared to 2023. While this shows improvement, it remains 20 percent below pre-COVID-19 sales levels from 2019.
