Hey, auto enthusiasts! 🚗 So, there’s been a significant boom in new car sales this August—a whopping 24.4% increase compared to last year. But guess what? The surge is mainly from fleet sales, not private buyers. Let’s dig into the details.
The Big Picture
- 85,657 new cars hit the UK roads this August. 🛣️
- Fleet sales skyrocketed by 58.4%. 🚀
- However, private car registrations dropped by 8.1%. 😟
What’s Electrifying the Market?
- 38% of new registrations were ‘electrified vehicles’, including hybrids and full EVs. 🔌
- Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) saw a 72.3% jump, grabbing a 20.1% market share. 🍃
- Plug-in Hybrids weren’t far behind, with a 70% increase in sales. 🔄
Concerns and Calls for Action
While the fleet sales are buzzing, industry experts are a bit concerned about two things:
- Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate: Set to kick in 2024, the government is yet to release the rulebook. 📜
- Lukewarm Private Buyer Interest: Despite the buzz around EVs, private buyers are still hesitant to make the switch. 🤔
Mike Hawes, the big boss at SMMT, is urging the government to take quick action. He says businesses need clarity on the upcoming Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate. Also, he’s calling for incentives to encourage more private buyers to go electric. 📣
So, there you go! The car market’s roaring, but it seems like we need a little nudge from the government to get more private buyers to join the EV party. Watch this space for more updates! 🚗💨