UK car sales in May reached their highest level for the month since before the Covid pandemic, with registrations rising by 7 per cent to 160,662, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The growth was driven in part by strong performances from Chinese manufacturers BYD and Chery.
Sales of battery electric vehicles recorded the fastest growth, accounting for more than 27 per cent of the market. Chery sold 11,100 cars across its Chery, Jaecoo and Omoda brands, while BYD sold 5,200. Over the first five months of the year, BYD’s sales doubled and Chery’s increased fivefold.
MG, owned by China’s state-owned SAIC, saw sales rise by 13 per cent to nearly 7,500. Sales from Leapmotor and Geely surged to 900 and 1,100 respectively, after negligible sales a year earlier. Chinese manufacturers have increased their presence in the UK, which has not imposed punitive tariffs on imports.
Demand for electric cars has risen since the introduction of grants last July and due to rising fuel prices caused by the US-Israeli war in Iran. Tesla, led by Elon Musk, recorded a 45 per cent sales increase in May, though year-to-date sales are up only 3 per cent.
Mike Hawes, SMMT’s chief executive, said: “Britain’s car buyers are responding to a market offering more choice than ever, from both new and familiar brands, resulting in a robust May.” The SMMT noted that private buyers, rather than corporate fleets, were responsible for the strongest May increase since 2019.
The strong growth in electric sales makes it likely that carmakers will comply with the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandatory sales targets. However, the SMMT and its members are lobbying the government to further weaken the targets, with Hawes calling for an “urgent” review to provide a “credible” path to net zero.
