1. Plugin EVs took a 24.7% share in the UK auto market in April, with BEVs accounting for 16.9% and PHEVs for 7.8%.
2. BMW was the leading BEV brand in the UK in April, with the BMW i4 being the topselling model.
3. The UK’s pace of EV transition is considered unimpressive compared to other markets like China, with some legacy auto brands performing poorly in terms of BEV sales.
April’s auto market in the UK saw plugin EVs account for 24.7% of sales, with battery-electric vehicles seeing modest growth and plugin hybrid EVs seeing decent growth. The overall auto market volume was up just 1% year on year. BMW was the leading battery-electric vehicle brand for the month.
In terms of volumes, BEVs saw a 10.7% increase year on year, while PHEVs had a more rapid growth of 22.1%. However, the growth in BEV volumes has slowed compared to previous years, with the UK’s transition to BEVs facing challenges.
Bestselling BEV brands in April included BMW, Mercedes, MG, and Audi. Volvo also showed strong sales with the new EX30 model. Tesla maintained a lead in the trailing 3-month rankings over BMW and Mercedes.
The UK’s rate of transition to BEVs has been slow compared to other markets like China, with many legacy auto brands lagging behind in BEV share. Some standout performers in the UK market include MG, Volvo, and BMW. Korean brands are also making progress in the EV transition.
Despite a flat year-on-year auto market, the UK’s economy remains in recession with challenges in the EV market. The SMMT predicts a diminishing share for BEVs in the overall new car market, with revised BEV volumes and market share lower than government targets. The conversation around the UK’s pace of EV transition continues.