The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) revealed data for May that showed a 2% decrease in new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) sold to consumers in the UK in comparison to 2023.
The CEO of the company stated that this was true even though they were making “very attractive offers” to entice purchasers.
Ministers should provide “carrots, not just sticks” to encourage better uptake in the future, according to Mike Hawes, who cautioned manufacturers that they could not continue to discount at this level permanently and called for a more equitable transition.
According to analysts, this resulted in low demand in the market for private buyers.
household budgets are strained by the expense of living, and there are worries about a dearth of reasonably priced cars and charging infrastructure.
Overall, sales were looking much better.
May saw 26,031 BEV registrations, a 6.2% increase over the same month last year thanks to significant fleet sales.
The hybrid was another well-liked option. The overall number of new model sales increased by 1.7%.
Regarding private consumers’ desire for BEVs, the SMMT stated: “This performance… is still behind the trajectory enforced on manufacturers by government in its Vehicle Emissions Trading Scheme, which expects 22% of new vehicles sold this year by each brand be zero emission.
