Electric car sales rose 6% last month compared to a year ago, with Volkswagen, Audi and BMW between them taking around 30% of Britain’s EV market, data out today reveals.
New AutoMotive’s Electric Car Count claims to provide the most up-to-date and comprehensive electric car sales data in the UK.
MG and Kia, both with just under 7.5% market share, took 4th and 5th places, just outside Britain’s German-dominated EV podium.
EVs took 1% more of Britain’s total new car deliveries in January, New Automotive’s researchers discovered by polling manufacturers.
Competitiveness in the top end of UK EV supply should encourage all manufacturers, the consultants believe. The race to dominate the EV segment of Britain’s car market is still wide open, they say, and brands who can electrify their ranges at pace will be rewarded.
New AutoMotive’s boss Ben Nelmes observed: “Following a month of negative headlines for the UK’s EV transition, we were pleasantly surprised to see sales of electric cars continue to grow. The data show that UK motorists are perfectly happy to embrace cleaner, cheaper, better transport.”
“This month’s collapse of (battery maker) Britishvolt is regrettable, but there is a bright future for British battery manufacturing. Ministers have a role to play, and must make sure the UK is as attractive as possible to site battery manufacturing.
“The UK needs a green industrial strategy“, Nelmes urged, “if we are to attract the jobs, investment and growth that the global transition to electric vehicles offers.”
“A good first step would be to end the delay to the long-overdue ZEV Mandate. This scheme is vital to attracting investment and creating clean, green and future-proofed British jobs.”
Peterborough again topped the UK’s regional hotspots in January, with EVs taking 56% of new vehicles registered. Oxford, Bristol, Newcastle and Wimbledon followed on, with EV shares of 50%, 34%, 30%, and 22% respectively among all new registrations. Further regional splits can be had here.
Unusually for a month in which it made deliveries, Tesla did not dominate the UK table. Elon Musk’s marque sold only 530 units in January, a market share of just under 4%. New Automotive speculate the company’s deliveries in the month were delayed fulfilment of deliveries scheduled for the month before.
Among traditional volume producers, German automakers appear to be electrifying their ranges quicker, and with most immediate sales success. 22% of BMW’s sales in January and 20% of Audi sales were electric vehicles, with both companies selling well over 1,000 EV units.
Selling less than 100 cars, Hyundai’s top end manufacturer Genesis had 91% of its sales were electric in January.
