Despite overall market contraction for November 2020, the sales of electric vehicles continued to growth during the pandemic.
Market share for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) continued to grow significantly year on year – up 122.4% and 76.9% respectively.
BEVs recorded their third highest ever monthly share of registrations at 9.1%, while PHEV share increased to 6.8% – a combined total of more than 18,000 new zero-emission cars joining Britain’s roads.
This was against the overall decline last month as registrations in November fell – 27.4% year-on-year, or 42,840 units. The figures were provided by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) with the industry recording 113,781 new registrations – taking trade back to levels last seen during the 2008 recession.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said about the figures: “Compared with the spring lockdown, manufacturers, dealers and consumers were all better prepared to adjust to constrained trading conditions. But with £1.3 billion worth of new car revenue lost in November alone, the importance of showroom trading to the UK economy is evident and we must ensure they remain open in any future Covid restrictions.
“More positively, with a vaccine now approved, the business and consumer confidence on which this sector depends can only improve, giving the industry more optimism for the turn of the year.”
