Car industry suffers second worst May in three decades

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The UK’s automotive sector endured its next weakest May perhaps in three decades, figures show.

Just 124,394 new vehicles had been registered past month, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.

That was down 20.6% compared with the very same month past 12 months.

UK sales of new cars in May

(PA Graphics)

It was the 2nd lowest amount of new automobiles registered in May well due to the fact 1992.

Only May 2020 – when the British isles was in a coronavirus lockdown – was worse for the market.

The SMMT attributed the decrease to shortages of parts which are lessening car availability “despite demand”.

Annual sales of new cars in the UK

(PA Graphics)

Registrations of pure electrical automobiles bucked the overall development previous thirty day period, with a 17.7% year-on-year raise.

Electrified vehicles these kinds of as pure electrics, plug-in hybrids and hybrids accounted for a few out of 10 new autos in Could.

SMMT chief government Mike Hawes claimed: “In nevertheless yet another demanding month for the new vehicle market place, the field continues to battle ongoing world wide areas shortages, with escalating battery electric car or truck uptake one of the couple of shiny spots.

“To carry on this momentum and travel a robust mass market for these cars, we need to have to guarantee every purchaser has the self esteem to go electric.

“This necessitates an acceleration in the rollout of available charging infrastructure to match the increasing variety of plug-in autos, as very well as incentives for the buy of new, cleaner and greener automobiles.

“Delivering on internet zero usually means renewing the autos on our streets at speed, but with climbing inflation and a squeeze on residence incomes this will be increasingly complicated, unless of course companies and private consumers have the self-confidence and encouragement to do so.”

Ian Plummer, professional director at automotive categorised promoting small business Automobile Trader, said: “Today’s weak new automobile figures underline the lingering worries for carmakers, as the war in Ukraine adds to the headwinds of a put up-Covid scarcity of semiconductors, and lockdowns in China.

“Even although the microchip scarcity is easing a little, suppliers are struggling to source essential factors like wiring looms, which are a major Ukrainian export and challenging to change.

“While there are some signals of dented shopper self confidence now dampening car-purchasing need from its new highs, the principal difficulty in the new automobile marketplace lies with supply somewhat than need with most manufacturers and dealerships boasting bulging orderbooks and customers ordinarily waiting numerous months for deliveries.”

Alex Buttle, co-founder of employed car or truck market Motorway.co.british isles, mentioned electric vehicle profits “provide a beacon of hope to the vehicle industry that items aren’t all doom and gloom”.

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