The UK new car market fell for the second time this year, down by -6% in October to 144,288 new registrations, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The fall was driven by double-digit drops in petrol and diesel vehicle deliveries, down -14% and -21% respectively. Uptake of hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles also fell, down -1.6% and -3.2%, with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) the only powertrain to record growth. A raft of new BEV models drove the strongest growth for the powertrain this year, up 25% to reach a 21% share of the market in October.
UK new car buyers now have more than 125 different BEV models to choose from – an uplift of 38% over the last 10 months.
While almost 300,000 new BEVs have reached the road in 2024, this represents 18% of the market – an increase on 2023, but still short of the 22% target for this year as per the terms of the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate.
Meanwhile, the number of new light commercial vehicles (LCVs) joining UK roads grew 2.4% in October with 26,974 new vans, pickups and 4x4s registered. It represents the third consecutive month of overall market growth and the best October in three years.
More positively, demand for new battery electric vans (BEVs) rose for the first time in five months, up 62% to 2,263 units, with new registrations of the very greenest models representing 8% of the whole new LCV market in October. Over the course of the year, however, uptake has fallen by -2% compared with the same period last year, accounting for a 5.6% market share – significantly below the level mandated (10% in 2024).
See the latest on the Zero Emission Van Plan: Zero Emission Van Plan gains momentum.
More information on registration figures on the SMMT website.
