Parts shortages continue to plague car sales in the United Kingdom, though the downward trend isn’t hindering increasing electric vehicle (EV) demand.
New vehicle registrations in the UK fell to a 30-year low in the second half of 2022, with just 1.61 million new cars registered throughout the full year, according to the latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shared on Thursday.
EV purchases nearly made up one-fifth of all new car sales in the year, while the country’s registrations hit their lowest point since 1992.
Most cite the COVID-19 pandemic’s far-reaching effects as the reason for the market’s downturn. The last “normal” year of auto sales took place in 2019, from which the current figures are down by about 25 percent.
The Tesla Model Y was the best-selling vehicle in the UK for December at 10,664 units, followed by the Model 3 at 5,704. For the full year 2022, the Model Y was third with 35,910 sales, the top-selling all-battery EV.
For full year battery EV sales, the Model Y was on top with 35,551, followed by the Model 3 with 19,071 sales. Third was the Kia e-Niro with 11,197, followed by the Volkswagen ID.3 at 9,832, Nissan LEAF at 9,178 in fifth spot.
“Looking ahead, supply chains are beginning to stabilise and although the shortage of semiconductors is expected to ease, erratic supply will likely impact manufacturing throughout 2023. The most recent market outlook, published in October 2022, anticipates around 1.8 million new car registrations in 2023, worth around £8.4 billion in additional turnover,” concluded the SMMT.
