The UK’s used automotive market grew by 5.5% in the course of the third quarter with battery electrical automobiles (BEV) now representing 1.8% of the used market, up from 1.0% final yr, in line with the newest figures revealed right this moment by the Society of Motor Producers and Merchants (SMMT).

Round 1,884,160 models modified fingers, marking the third successive quarter of progress, with 98,713 further transactions in contrast with the identical interval in 2022, following a sturdy improve in provide as the brand new automotive market recovers.

Volumes in every month of the quarter rose, with the strongest achieve in September, up 6.3%, which helped the market ship the perfect Q3 efficiency since 2021.

Reflecting a rise in provide, demand for battery electrical automobiles (BEVs) doubled within the quarter, reaching a file market share as volumes rose by 99.9% to 34,021 models.

Gross sales of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and hybrids (HEVs) additionally grew, up 34.6%, and 46.4% respectively. Volumes for petrol and diesel vehicles, in the meantime, grew by 4.0% to 1,065,448 and a pair of.3% to 704,204 models respectively.

Superminis remained the preferred car kind, rising by 5.8% to 607,484 models and accounting for 32.3% of transactions. Rounding off the highest three car varieties had been decrease medium and twin function vehicles, each rising by 7.1% to make up 26.8% and 14.9% of the market. Mixed, the three segments account for nearly three quarters (73.9%) of all vehicles bought in Q3. On the different finish of the dimensions, sports activities and luxurious saloons had been the one segments to see declines, falling -1.8% and -2.5% respectively.

Black remained the preferred used automotive color for the eleventh consecutive quarter, equating to greater than a fifth (21.3%) of gross sales. The highest 5 stay the identical as Q3 2022, with gray taking second place and seeing above common good points – rising 9.8% to extend market share to 17.1%. Blue held robust in third place, silver – which as soon as firmly held pole place – was fourth and white positioned in fifth.

Consequently, the general market is up 4.6% to five,563,576 models yr so far, a rise of 244,094 models on 2022, though uptake stays -9.3% off pre-pandemic ranges.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief govt, mentioned: “The used automotive market continues to develop strongly, with re-energised provide unlocking demand for pre-owned electrical automobiles – the end result being twice as many motorists switching to zero emission motoring within the quarter. Sustaining this momentum requires progress within the new automotive market, to spice up provide to the used sector and cement this success. Equally vital is the pressing want for charging infrastructure rollout so that each one drivers can have faith in having the ability to cost each time and wherever they want.”

Alex Buttle, co-founder of used automotive market Motorway.co.uk, mentioned: “The automotive trade is happy to see used automotive gross sales persevering with to soar for one more quarter in 2023. With new automotive gross sales actually selecting up, this has led to extra used vehicles hitting the market. ULEZ Growth has boosted provide of non-compliant fashions too, so the market is effectively stocked with a variety of used vehicles throughout petrol, diesel, hybrid and EV fashions. 

“Used EV gross sales continued to skyrocket in Q3, with extra drivers trying to the used market as an alternative of recent, as a extra inexpensive route into going electrical. If the federal government can proceed to assist the transition to electrical with improved charging infrastructure and monetary incentives for personal automotive patrons in addition to fleet customers, then used EV gross sales might soar even additional forward.”