Car sales increase in November

“The increase in new vehicle sales in November builds on increasing sales in recent months. Franchised dealers continue to deliver a high quality service to their customers in the face of tight vehicle supply,“ said Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers in the UK commenting on the latest SMMT’s new passenger car registration figures.

In November, a total of 142,889 new cars were registered, an increase of 23.5% from the same period last year. Sales to private buyers grew by 2.7%; fleet registrations were down by 45.4%.

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) experienced strong growth, up 35.2% to 29,372 units. Plug-in hybrid (PHEVs) registrations declined by -5.7% to 10,186 units, whilst hybrids (HEVs) increased by 66.9% to 16,066 units. There are now 224,919 registered BEVs on the road in 2022 compared to the 163,022 at the same point last year, a 38% increase.

With sales of electric growing, diesel fell from 5,939 units to 5,605 (-5.6%), whilst petrol has risen from 50,073 units to 57,590 units (15%).

Sue Robinson added: “New car sales rising again demonstrates that consumer demand remains robust and our members are focused on helping customers find the right vehicle for them against long lead times and supply constraints. Through our Electric Vehicle Approved (EVA) scheme, we are also helping dealers to advise customers on the transition to EV, a trend that will continue through the remainder of the decade.”

Hugo Griffiths, Consumer Editor at carwow, Europe’s largest online marketplace for buying and selling cars, said:

“If one month’s improvement in new-car registrations could be an outlier, two a coincidence and three show potential, the fact November saw 2022’s fourth consecutive month of growth in new-car registrations must surely mark a trend. 

“So, while these upward steps may be from a low base, it would take a veritable Scrooge to dismiss this as anything other than a good sign. Because, while things are still some way off being ‘normal’ for the new-car market, given the circumstances both the industry and consumers are facing, the fact over 140,000 new cars were registered in the UK last month, with a near 25% growth, is cause, if not for celebration, then some positivity at least.”