British new car registrations increased by roughly 6% in May versus the same month a year earlier, according to data published by New Automotive on Wednesday. The expansion in market volumes was driven principally by demand for plug-in models.
Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) represented 27% of all new registrations in May. BEV registrations rose 31% year-on-year in the month, making the pure-electric category the fastest-growing segment in the market, the New Automotive figures show.
The data points to shifting consumer preferences amid higher fuel costs. The report cites rising fuel prices - attributed to global oil shocks and the Iran war - as a factor encouraging buyers in Britain and Europe to consider alternative drivetrains. The UK government Electric Car Grant is also noted as supporting the move toward electrified vehicles.
Conventional powertrain volumes contracted. Petrol registrations declined 14% year-on-year, while diesel registrations fell 6%. Hybrid registrations were broadly unchanged over the same period.
Tesla's UK sales increased 18% year-on-year to 2,812 units in May, the New Automotive data show. Overall, new car sales across the UK amounted to 152,331 units in the month.
The figures reflect a market environment where policy incentives and higher running costs for internal-combustion vehicles coincide with accelerating BEV adoption. The report does not extend beyond the monthly registration statistics or provide forward guidance.
Data source: New Automotive (data released Wednesday).