Car sales dip after July boost

UK new car registrations fell by 5.8% in August.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has reported that just over 87,000 vehicles were registered during what is traditionally the quietest month of the year for new car sales.

However, zero emission-capable cars enjoyed a spectacular month, with sales of plug-in hybrids increasing by 221.1% and registrations of battery electric cars increasing by 77.6% in the month, accounting for 6.4% of sales.

Registrations to private buyers held relatively steady, down by 699 units in the month, but demand from businesses of all sizes was much more subdued, with 2,650 fewer new cars joining UK fleets, down 5.5% on August 2019.

Overall, registrations remain down by 39.7% in the year to date, some 600,000 units behind this time in 2019, following coronavirus enforced lockdowns.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “The decline is disappointing, following some brief optimism in July. However, given August is typically one the new car market’s quietest months, it’s important not to draw too many conclusions from these figures alone. With the all-important plate change month just around the corner, September is likely to provide a better barometer. As the nation takes steps to return to normality, protecting consumer confidence will be critical to driving a recovery.”