The new car market grew during January, according to the latest figures, a month in which the millionth battery electric car reached UK roads.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said that 142,876 new cars were registered, an uplift of 10,882 units on January 2023, the best performance for the month since 2020 and the 18th consecutive of growth.
The market also reached its anticipated milestone of a million BEV registrations since records began. About 20,935 BEVs were registered in January, a rise of 21 per cent, taking the overall total since 2002 to 1,001,677.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “It’s taken just over 20 years to reach our million EV milestone but, with the right policies, we can double down on that success in just another two.
“Market growth is currently dependent on businesses and fleets. Government must therefore use the upcoming Budget to support private EV buyers, temporarily halving VAT to cut carbon, drive economic growth and help everyone make the switch.
“Manufacturers have been asked to supply the vehicles, we now ask government to help consumers buy the vehicles on which Net Zero depends.”
