UK registrations of new cars have risen for the 10th consecutive month as supply chain issues continue to ease.
New car registrations increased by 16.7% in May to reach 145,204 units, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
It marks the longest uninterrupted period of expansion for eight years. However, registrations remain 21.0% below pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019.
Petrol-powered cars are still the biggest sellers, with 59,766 units or 57.1% of all registrations in May, but alternatively powered vehicles are continuing to gain ground.
Last month saw battery electric vehicles consolidate their position as the UK’s second most popular power train. Electric cars accounted for 16.9% of new car sales in May as 24,513 joined the road during the month, up from 15,448 in May last year.
Meanwhile, plug-in hybrids grew 23.0% to reach a market share of 6.2% and registrations of hybrid electric vehicles were up 22.2% for a market share of 12.3%.
“After the difficult, Covid-constrained supply issues of the last few years, it’s good to see the new car market maintain its upward trend and the fact that growth is, increasingly, green growth is hugely encouraging,” commented SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes.
The SMMT said that strong industry investment was boosting the UK’s transition to electric vehicles, but warned that the speed of the shift still “needs to accelerate”.
“We must increase demand and help any reticent driver overcome any concerns about electric vehicles,” Hawes added. “This will require every stakeholder — industry, government, chargepoint operators and energy companies — to play their part, accelerating investment to drive decarbonisation.”
