Carmaker made up 9pc of the market, as electric vehicles surge in popularity
Petrol cars accounted for fewer than 50pc of total sales last month, with electric car giant Tesla becoming the best-selling brand in the UK.
New electric cars made up just over a quarter of the total sold in December, while petrol cars’ market share dipped to 46pc, data from transport researchers New AutoMotive shows.
Electric cars have grown from less than 3pc of new sales two years ago to 26pc last month amid falling prices and regulations encouraging cleaner transport.
In December Tesla’s cars made up 9pc of the market, making it the most popular manufacturer in the UK for the first time since April 2020. VW was on 8pc and Audi 7pc.
It was Tesla’s best-ever month for UK sales, with the company making up 36pc of all new electric car purchases.
Last month also saw the market share of electric vehicles reach its second-highest level ever, at 26pc, just under the 33pc seen in April 2020, when car purchases fell to their lowest level since 1946 and Tesla’s Model 3 became the most popular new car in the UK.
The Texas-based electric car company sold almost 9,300 cars in December, more than two-thirds up on the year before.
Separately, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders industry group released data suggesting more electric vehicles were registered in 2021 than over the previous five years combined, in an otherwise slow year in which new car sales grew by just 1pc.
Overall battery electric vehicles made up just under 12pc of the market last year, the SMMT said.
Petrol and diesel were close to equal popularity five years ago, the New AutoMotive data shows, with petrol making up 49pc of the total and diesel 47pc in December 2016.
Diesel overtook petrol as the most popular fuel type for new cars in July 2010 but seven years later it had fallen to make up less than a third of the market amid concerns about its environmental impacts and the growing popularity of hybrids.
Promoted as emitting lower levels of carbon dioxide than petrol, diesel cars were subject to tax perks in the EU despite emitting higher levels of nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant linked to health risks including asthma.
In 2015 the German carmaker Volkswagen was also found to have cheated diesel emissions tests, prompting a recall of millions of cars and the resignation of chief executive Martin Winterkorn.
As part of Net Zero plans to cut emissions the Government has announced a ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030, with new hybrids banned five years later.
Once the preserve of the wealthiest drivers, electric cars have fallen in price as carmakers invest in new models and battery technology becomes cheaper and more efficient.
But there are concerns about access to charging infrastructure, with some estimates suggesting the UK needs to double its rate of public charger installation to keep up with demand.
Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, said: “A record-breaking year for the cleanest, greenest vehicles is testament to the investment made by the industry over the past decade and the inherent attractiveness of the technology.”
Ben Nelmes, head of policy and research at New AutoMotive, said: “The government must use every tool in the box to get electric cars into the hands of high mileage drivers to maximise emissions reductions.”
By
Olivia Rudgard,
ENVIRONMENT CORRESPONDENT and
Howard Mustoe
6 January 2022 • 6:00am
Shame there aren’t really any affordable standard Focus/Golf sized EVs with sufficient range to be practically useable for many. The Model 3 is £38,000-considerably more than most people can afford. Leaf is £27,000 for the basic model with only 168 miles of range, the higher trim model with 239 miles is £33,000.
Considering the best selling car has been the Fiesta for years-Corsa won this year-and those go from £15-20,000 asking people to spend 30-80% more for a basic model EV with not enough range for more than 3 hours of motorway driving is unachievable.
What’s going to happen to all the knackered batteries in a decade or so’s time?
[deleted]
How will they cope on the second hand market. As in will battery life be ok for second or third owners?
Until they get rid of the massive touchscreen controls I will continue to avoid
Where am I gonna plug mine in if I buy one? If I’m lucky enough to park outside my house (which is as rare as an honest tory), I’d still need about 10 meters of wire…at least. And that would trail across several pavements and down a small tree covered hill.
Shame the majority of us can’t afford them (or most electric cars) so we’re stuck with petrol..
That’s honestly surprising.
Living where I live, there’s no dedicated parking on street, + I’m not entirely convinced my electrical system would even support a charger that would be useable.
Secondly, what about high rise flats? I’m also not entirely convinced that you could scale a wire down 70 floors, nor have enough parking for every car in that block.
I seriously don’t think people are thinking this through. Which makes sense of course. EVs aren’t exactly for the working class, so fuck them right? Can get on the bus like the rest of the pesants.
Going to be expensive when they batteries need changed
*New electric cars made up just over a quarter of the total sold in December, while petrol cars’ market share dipped to 46pc, data from transport researchers New AutoMotive shows*
So people still buying about 75% diesel and petrol then.
I suppose I’ll have to listen and wait another 5 years for the price to come down from what I thought it would come down 5 years ago.
I’d be interested in an electric car, but i heard the build quality on teslas is pretty ropey for the price. I’m hoping for some competition.
Reading the horror stories about tesla repairs Im surprised people are still interested in them
14 comments
Carmaker made up 9pc of the market, as electric vehicles surge in popularity
Petrol cars accounted for fewer than 50pc of total sales last month, with electric car giant Tesla becoming the best-selling brand in the UK.
New electric cars made up just over a quarter of the total sold in December, while petrol cars’ market share dipped to 46pc, data from transport researchers New AutoMotive shows.
Electric cars have grown from less than 3pc of new sales two years ago to 26pc last month amid falling prices and regulations encouraging cleaner transport.
In December Tesla’s cars made up 9pc of the market, making it the most popular manufacturer in the UK for the first time since April 2020. VW was on 8pc and Audi 7pc.
It was Tesla’s best-ever month for UK sales, with the company making up 36pc of all new electric car purchases.
Last month also saw the market share of electric vehicles reach its second-highest level ever, at 26pc, just under the 33pc seen in April 2020, when car purchases fell to their lowest level since 1946 and Tesla’s Model 3 became the most popular new car in the UK.
The Texas-based electric car company sold almost 9,300 cars in December, more than two-thirds up on the year before.
Separately, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders industry group released data suggesting more electric vehicles were registered in 2021 than over the previous five years combined, in an otherwise slow year in which new car sales grew by just 1pc.
Overall battery electric vehicles made up just under 12pc of the market last year, the SMMT said.
Petrol and diesel were close to equal popularity five years ago, the New AutoMotive data shows, with petrol making up 49pc of the total and diesel 47pc in December 2016.
Diesel overtook petrol as the most popular fuel type for new cars in July 2010 but seven years later it had fallen to make up less than a third of the market amid concerns about its environmental impacts and the growing popularity of hybrids.
Promoted as emitting lower levels of carbon dioxide than petrol, diesel cars were subject to tax perks in the EU despite emitting higher levels of nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant linked to health risks including asthma.
In 2015 the German carmaker Volkswagen was also found to have cheated diesel emissions tests, prompting a recall of millions of cars and the resignation of chief executive Martin Winterkorn.
As part of Net Zero plans to cut emissions the Government has announced a ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030, with new hybrids banned five years later.
Once the preserve of the wealthiest drivers, electric cars have fallen in price as carmakers invest in new models and battery technology becomes cheaper and more efficient.
But there are concerns about access to charging infrastructure, with some estimates suggesting the UK needs to double its rate of public charger installation to keep up with demand.
Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, said: “A record-breaking year for the cleanest, greenest vehicles is testament to the investment made by the industry over the past decade and the inherent attractiveness of the technology.”
Ben Nelmes, head of policy and research at New AutoMotive, said: “The government must use every tool in the box to get electric cars into the hands of high mileage drivers to maximise emissions reductions.”
By
Olivia Rudgard,
ENVIRONMENT CORRESPONDENT and
Howard Mustoe
6 January 2022 • 6:00am
Shame there aren’t really any affordable standard Focus/Golf sized EVs with sufficient range to be practically useable for many. The Model 3 is £38,000-considerably more than most people can afford. Leaf is £27,000 for the basic model with only 168 miles of range, the higher trim model with 239 miles is £33,000.
Considering the best selling car has been the Fiesta for years-Corsa won this year-and those go from £15-20,000 asking people to spend 30-80% more for a basic model EV with not enough range for more than 3 hours of motorway driving is unachievable.
What’s going to happen to all the knackered batteries in a decade or so’s time?
[deleted]
How will they cope on the second hand market. As in will battery life be ok for second or third owners?
Until they get rid of the massive touchscreen controls I will continue to avoid
Where am I gonna plug mine in if I buy one? If I’m lucky enough to park outside my house (which is as rare as an honest tory), I’d still need about 10 meters of wire…at least. And that would trail across several pavements and down a small tree covered hill.
Shame the majority of us can’t afford them (or most electric cars) so we’re stuck with petrol..
That’s honestly surprising.
Living where I live, there’s no dedicated parking on street, + I’m not entirely convinced my electrical system would even support a charger that would be useable.
Secondly, what about high rise flats? I’m also not entirely convinced that you could scale a wire down 70 floors, nor have enough parking for every car in that block.
I seriously don’t think people are thinking this through. Which makes sense of course. EVs aren’t exactly for the working class, so fuck them right? Can get on the bus like the rest of the pesants.
Going to be expensive when they batteries need changed
*New electric cars made up just over a quarter of the total sold in December, while petrol cars’ market share dipped to 46pc, data from transport researchers New AutoMotive shows*
So people still buying about 75% diesel and petrol then.
I suppose I’ll have to listen and wait another 5 years for the price to come down from what I thought it would come down 5 years ago.
I’d be interested in an electric car, but i heard the build quality on teslas is pretty ropey for the price. I’m hoping for some competition.
Reading the horror stories about tesla repairs Im surprised people are still interested in them