Electric Cars Are Close to Overtaking Petrol In the UK, Data Shows
69 million people people live in the United Kingdom. And now >Electrek reports: Battery-electric cars took 32% of the UK's new car market in October, while petrol cars fell to just 37.2%, according to new data from the SMMT. That's the closest the two have been. At the current pace, electric cars will outsell petrol in the UK within a year. And it could happen as soon as this December. The UK…
In the United Kingdom, electric cars are rapidly approaching a point where they will surpass petrol-powered vehicles in sales, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Battery-electric cars accounted for 32% of new car market in October, while petrol cars dropped to just 37.2%, the closest they have been in recent history.
If the current growth trend continues, electric cars could become the top-selling vehicle type in the UK as early as December this year, with a full transition possibly occurring by 2027.
October saw a significant increase in new car registrations, totaling 152,730, marking a 5.4% year-over-year growth and the 11th consecutive month of market expansion. All these figures were driven by plug-in electric vehicles. Battery-electric vehicle sales surged by 32.7% to 48,858 units, while plug-in hybrid sales rose 30.1% to 22,898 units. In contrast, traditional petrol sales fell by 11.6% to 56,876 units, and diesel sales dropped by 15.9%. Even conventional hybrids experienced a 5% decline.
The brands experiencing the fastest growth in the UK are predominantly Chinese. BYD registered 6,065 cars in October, up 73%, while JAC nearly doubled to 6,089 units, Chery nearly tripled to 3,707, and Leapmotor doubled to 1,773. MG also saw an 85% increase in sales.
According to the article's analysis, EV car sales are projected to surpass petrol sales around August 2027, with both categories reaching approximately 33% market share. However, the article points out that the December 2024 spike in EV sales, driven by manufacturers meeting zero-emission vehicle mandates, could push the milestone forward. Ultimately, the question remains whether the tipping point will occur in December 2024 or later in 2027.
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