New car registrations for all vehicles were down by 20% in September, as the ongoing cost of living crisis takes a toll on the new car market.
Among the mass market brands, BMW made a strong showing in September – more than doubling its total EV output from last year. In September 2021, BMW sold 1,003 Electric vehicles, in September 2022, that figure stands at 2,212.
This data is from New AutoMotive’s Electric Car Count (ECC) – the most up-to-date and comprehensive electric car sales data in the UK.
Ben Nelmes, Co-Founder and Head of Policy, says:
“Electric cars have secured an impressive share of the market, with 17% of all new UK cars fully electric in September.
“New car registrations overall were down by 20% in September, as the ongoing cost of living crisis takes a toll on the new car market. Consumers and businesses may be delaying or rethinking large purchases and investments. While the recent turbulence in financial markets is unlikely to have had much impact on September’s sales figures, they may prove to be an issue going forwards as the cost of financing the purchase of a new car increases with interest rates.”
“So far, 2022 has seen weaker new car sales figures than 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak. Any drop in sales of EVs makes it harder for the UK to meet its carbon budgets and slows efforts to reduce our reliance on expensive, imported fuels. It is welcome to see that EV sales are holding up so well given the current headwinds in the market.”
“Electric cars charged at home on a standard variable tariff are over 40% cheaper to run per mile compared to petrol and diesel alternatives. As the cost-of-living crisis continues to hit new car sales, more and more consumers may choose to go electric because of the savings EVs offer, insulating drivers from the worst of the market downturn.”
For a full breakdown of electric vehicle sales by manufacturer, region and details of data sourcing and methodology you can view an interactive dashboard, here. You can find a summary of electric car sales over the years below, and the September ECC report here.