The SMMT has continued its appeal after publishing the latest figures on the UK’s new car market. It found that new car registrations rose overall by 21% last month compared to the same time last year, with battery electric car registrations rising by almost 19%.

Electric car volume increases were wholly driven by fleet purchases however, with companies “drawn to the advanced technology, outstanding performance, reduced environmental impact and compelling tax incentives” of the vehicles, the industry body said.

Despite the increase in EV sales as a whole, private EV registrations fell by 14% in September, meaning that less than one in 10 private new car buyers chose an electric vehicle over a non-electric one.

The industry body stated that the decline “underlines the importance of providing these motorists with purchase incentives and other mechanisms to stimulate demand.” Such incentives could come in the form of purchase discounts, or vehicle tax breaks.

The latest figures from SMMT follow prime minister Rishi Sunak’s announcement last month, in which he stated that the UK was postponing its 2030 ban on petrol and diesel cars by five years, to 2035.

While citing upfront costs for families still being high as a primary cause, the prime minister also stated that “At least for now, it should be you, the consumer, that makes that choice, not government forcing you to do it.”

In a response to Sunak’s confirmation, Mike Hawes, the chief executive of SMMT, said: “Manufacturers will continue to put innovative new models on the market but consumers need encouragement to buy more than ever,” and that “Carrots move markets faster than sticks.”

While the UK has postponed the ban, the requirement for 22% of manufacturers’ sold cars and 10% of their vans to be electric, as part of the UK Government’s zero emissions vehicle mandate, remains unchanged. The mandate is set to come into force in 2024.

Recommended reading

• NHS Welcomes AI-assisted CT Scans From Scots Company
• Edinburgh-based Medtech Partners with CELLINK
• Edinburgh Airport to Receive New 3D Security Scanners

In a brand new statement following the publication of SMMT’s latest figures, Hawes has reiterated his call for consumer incentives: “With tougher EV targets for manufacturers coming into force next year, we need to accelerate the transition, encouraging all motorists to make the switch.

“This means adding carrots to the stick – creating private purchase incentives aligned with business benefits, equalising on-street charging VAT with off-street domestic rates and mandating chargepoint rollout in line with how electric vehicle sales are now to be dictated.

“The forthcoming Autumn Statement is the perfect opportunity to create the conditions that will deliver the zero emission mobility essential to our shared net zero ambition.”