The UK new car market saw a year-on-year decline in registrations for the second consecutive month in November.
Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that registrations fell by 1.9% compared with November 2023.
This included a 1.1% drop in fleet registrations, and a 3.3% drop in private registrations, although business registrations – classed as those to firms with fewer than 25 vehicles – were up by 5.2%.
In terms of fuel mix, EV registrations were up by 58.4% year-on-year, accounting for 25.1% of the overall market, which the SMMT attributed to heavy discounting by manufacturers.
Plug-in hybrid registrations were down by 1.2%, for a 10.2% market share, while conventional hybrids were down by 3.6%, taking 12.8% of the market.
Petrol car registrations fell by 17.7%, making up 45.8% of the market, while diesels were down by 10.1%, for a 6.1% market share.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “Manufacturers are investing at unprecedented levels to bring new zero emission models to market and spending billions on compelling offers. Such incentives are unsustainable – industry cannot deliver the UK’s world-leading ambitions alone.
“It is right, therefore, that government urgently reviews the market regulation and the support necessary to drive it, given EV registrations need to rise by over a half next year.
“Ambitious regulation, a bold plan for incentives and accelerated infrastructure rollout are essential for success, else UK jobs, investment and decarbonisation will be at further risk.”
