Sales of alternatively fuelled vehicles continue to grow according to November’s sales figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers an Traders (SMMT) released today (Friday 4th December).
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
After October’s sales saw the first drop in 44 months of growth, November returned to growth with overall sales up 3.8 per cent against November 2014. Alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) – which include hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles – saw an 8.6 per cent growth versus November 2014 – more than diesel (3.6 per cent) and petrol (3.8 per cent) combined.
AFVs accounted for a three per cent market share in November’s figures, and now represent 2.7 per cent of the overall market 2015 year to date. Diesel powered cars are seeing their past dominance tested in 2015 with market share down to 48.4 per cent – down from last year’s 50 per cent. That said, diesels still had the upper hand in November, selling almost 10,000 more units than petrol models.
Overall growth year to date sees diesel at just 2.7 per cent, petrol at 8.3 per cent and AFVs at a huge 41.1 per cent – with the latter category having already sold almost 20,000 more cars than at the same point last year.
Cars eligible for the Plug-in Car Grant (PiGC) saw a 21.4 per cent increase versus November 2014, up to 2,276 models sold in the month. This accounts for 1.3 per cent of the month’s market share, with signs that the plug-in market could be kicking on again and growing at a significant rate. The year to date market share sits at 1.02 per cent for example. Certainly year to date sales are far in advance of last year, with 2015’s 25,096 vehicles more than double 2014’s sales up to November.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said,
“November’s figures come as a reminder of the strength of the UK car market, as low interest rates and competitive finance deals continue to attract consumers to new car ownership. We have been expecting a levelling-off in demand for some time now – a development that is being realised following an unprecedented three-and-a-half years of non-stop growth.”
Source: Next Green Car