Sales of new electric cars in UK outperform market

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Sales of pure battery electric new cars outperformed the market last month, new figures show.

Some 26,031 of the vehicles were registered in May, up 6.2% from the same month last year, the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) said.

That is compared with a 1.7% year-on-year increase for all types of new cars.

Uptake of new electric cars is being driven by purchases for large fleets, with those volumes rising 11%.

Registrations of the vehicles by private buyers declined by 2.0%.

SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said: ‘As Britain prepares for next month’s general election, the new car market continues to hold steady as large fleets sustain growth, offsetting weakened private retail demand.

‘Consumers enjoy a plethora of new electric models and some very attractive offers, but manufacturers can’t sustain this scale of support on their own indefinitely.

‘Their success so far should be a signpost for the next government that a faster and fairer transition requires carrots, not just sticks.’

By Neil Lancefield, PA Transport Correspondent

Press Association: Finance

source: PA

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