Britain’s millionth battery electrical automotive (BEV) reached the highway in January 2024, whereas the brand new automotive market grew 8.2% for the month, in accordance with the most recent figures from the Society of Motor Producers and Merchants (SMMT).

The primary month of the 12 months noticed 142,876 new automobiles registered, an uplift of 10,882 models on January 2023, the most effective efficiency for the month since 2020 and the 18th consecutive month of progress. The rise was pushed fully by the fleet market, which rose by 29.9%, whereas personal retail uptake fell -15.8%. Fleets accounted for greater than six in 10 (63.2%) new automobiles registered, up from simply over half (52.7%) final 12 months.

The market additionally – narrowly – reached its anticipated milestone of one million BEV registrations since information started. Some 20,935 BEVs had been registered in January, an increase of 21.0% 12 months on 12 months, taking the general whole since 2002 to 1,001,677 – testomony to the dedication of producers to ship ever-increasing numbers of zero emission fashions.¹ BEV market share for January additionally grew 12 months on 12 months to 14.7%, though that is beneath the complete 2023 efficiency of 16.5%. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) recorded quantity progress of 31.1% to take 8.4% of the market, whereas hybrid (HEV) volumes fell -1.2% with a 13.1% share.

Volatility in BEV provide has been anticipated and is prone to proceed as producers regulate product allocation following the last-minute decision over UK-EU guidelines of origin, which had threatened to use tariffs to EVs, proscribing affordability. Nonetheless, whereas fleet and enterprise demand for BEVs grew by 41.7% in January, registrations by personal patrons fell by -25.1% – an ongoing pattern that can undermine Britain’s means to ship web zero.²

The UK is now the one main market to mix a 2035 finish of sale date with a mandated zero emission car market share, however with none important client incentives. But it’s more and more clear that non-public patrons want extra help to change. Forward of subsequent month’s Finances, trade is asking for presidency to help shoppers by quickly halving VAT on new BEV purchases. Such a step would price the Treasury a median of simply £1,125 per automotive, which is lower than the price of the earlier Plug-in Automotive Grant and would put greater than 1 / 4 of one million electrical – fairly than petrol or diesel – automobiles on the highway by the top of 2026, on prime of these already anticipated. Not solely would this minimize CO2 by greater than 5 million tonnes throughout that point³, it will imply that the subsequent million EVs could possibly be delivered in simply two years.

Quickly decreasing VAT on EVs would partly mirror the tax exemption already supplied to shoppers on different carbon discount applied sciences reminiscent of warmth pumps. Supporting the EV client at present would additionally guarantee wider advantages reminiscent of growing the provision of used EVs, enlarging the general market to make it extra engaging for charging and manufacturing funding, and slashing Britain’s carbon footprint.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Govt, stated,

It’s taken simply over 20 years to succeed in our million EV milestone – however with the fitting insurance policies, we will double down on that success in simply one other two. Market progress is at the moment depending on companies and fleets. Authorities should subsequently use the upcoming Finances to help personal EV patrons, quickly halving VAT to chop carbon, drive financial progress and assist everybody make the swap. Producers have been requested to provide the autos, we now ask authorities to assist shoppers purchase the autos on which web zero relies upon.

The newest 2024 outlook for the brand new automotive market estimates a complete total quantity of 1.974 million models, which is a 4,000 unit improve on the October estimate, however with the BEV forecast diminished to a market share of 21.0% over the 12 months, in contrast with the 22.3% anticipated in October and the 23.3% anticipated a 12 months in the past. Whereas myriad components reminiscent of excessive power costs, inflation and rates of interest, charging nervousness and blended messaging from authorities have restricted demand, 100,000 extra BEVs will nonetheless attain the highway in 2024 in contrast with final 12 months, totalling some 414,000 models – a couple of in 5 new automobiles. This quantity would improve even additional if a VAT discount on EVs was launched.

SOURCE: SMMT