- January car sales grew 14.7% year-on-year – some 131,994 motors registered
- Demand for ‘electrified’ cars pushed registrations higher, with hybrids up 40%
- Electric vehicles easily outsold diesels again, but experts warn demand for EVs could slip due to cost-of-living squeeze and behind-schedule charging network
The UK’s new car market grew for a six consecutive month in January as supply chain issues plagueing the sector continue to ease, new industry figures issued on Monday morning show.
Some 131,994 new cars were registered last month, up 14.7 per cent on January 2022, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.
Topping the sales chart in January was Chinese-backed MG, with its £31,095 HS plug-in hybrid SUV the most-bought model.
ZS EV (Image: MG)
Electrified vehicles drove the sales increase, particularly hybrids. And 100 per cent battery models are easily outselling diesels in the first month of the year.
However, experts remain ‘cautiously optimistic’, warning that the cost-of-living squeeze and slow installation of charging points could soon hit demand for plug-in models
Registrations of hybrid electric vehicles were the big riser in January, up 40.6 per cent on the same month in 2022.
With 18,975 conventional hybrids entering the road last month, only petrols (76,216 registrations) were sold in greater numbers in terms of fuel type.
Plug-in hybrids remained relatively static, up just 0.7 per cent – though the best-selling MG HS model (3,481 registrations) is among the 9.109 PHEVs bought last month.
Read more: ThisMoney
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