ELECTRIC CAR SALES HIT SEVEN-YEAR HIGH BUT MISS GOVERNMENT TARGETS

New car registrations in June reached 213,166 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The figure represented an 11.4 per cent increase compared with June of the previous year and marked the strongest June performance since 2019. Pure battery electric vehicles comprised 30 per cent of all sales that month, up from 24.8 per cent a year earlier. Registrations of pure battery electric new cars rose by 35 per cent year-on-year in June.

The Government's Zero-Emission Vehicle mandate requires manufacturers to ensure that 33 per cent of their sales are fully electric in 2026, with this requirement rising to 80 per cent by 2030. The SMMT characterised June's electric vehicle sales performance as significant. However, the organisation noted that current sales levels remain below the government's mandated targets, despite manufacturers applying heavy discounting that is affecting profits and investment in the sector.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, warned that the industry targets cannot be met and called for an immediate review of the mandate. He stated that June's results demonstrated growing electric vehicle uptake, with battery electric cars reaching their highest market share of the year and more than half of buyers choosing electrified models overall. Despite these record levels, Hawes indicated the performance remained insufficient to meet the mandated targets.