Car industry suffers second worst May in three decades

The UK’s automotive marketplace endured its next weakest Might in 3 decades, figures demonstrate.

Just 124,394 new cars had been registered previous thirty day period, the Culture of Motor Makers and Traders (SMMT) explained.

That was down 20.6% in contrast with the identical month very last calendar year.

It was the 2nd lowest selection of new autos registered in May possibly because 1992.

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

The SMMT attributed the decrease to shortages of elements which are cutting down car availability “despite demand”.

Registrations of pure electric cars and trucks bucked the over-all craze last month, with a 17.7% calendar year-on-12 months enhance.

Electrified vehicles these as pure electrics, plug-in hybrids and hybrids accounted for three out of 10 new automobiles in May well.

SMMT main executive Mike Hawes said: “In yet a different challenging thirty day period for the new automobile industry, the industry carries on to fight ongoing international components shortages, with growing battery electrical car uptake just one of the handful of vivid spots.

“To proceed this momentum and generate a sturdy mass marketplace for these vehicles, we want to guarantee each purchaser has the self-confidence to go electric powered.

“This calls for an acceleration in the rollout of obtainable charging infrastructure to match the expanding range of plug-in vehicles, as nicely as incentives for the obtain of new, cleaner and greener cars and trucks.

“Delivering on net zero signifies renewing the autos on our roadways at speed, but with mounting inflation and a squeeze on residence incomes this will be progressively tricky, except enterprises and non-public buyers have the assurance and encouragement to do so.”

Ian Plummer, business director at automotive labeled advertising and marketing organization Automobile Trader, stated: “Today’s weak new automobile figures underline the lingering challenges for carmakers, as the war in Ukraine provides to the headwinds of a put up-Covid shortage of semiconductors, and lockdowns in China.

“Even though the microchip scarcity is easing a small, companies are struggling to supply significant elements like wiring looms, which are a important Ukrainian export and hard to replace.

“While there are some signs of dented consumer assurance now dampening car or truck-purchasing demand from its latest highs, the major difficulty in the new vehicle current market lies with source instead than need with most brands and dealerships boasting bulging orderbooks and consumers normally waiting lots of months for deliveries.”

Alex Buttle, co-founder of utilised auto marketplace Motorway.co.uk, explained electrical auto gross sales “provide a beacon of hope to the motor vehicle market that points are not all doom and gloom”.