New car registrations rise for tenth consecutive month in May

The performance marks 10 consecutive months of growth and longest uninterrupted period of expansion for eight years. Despite the uplift, registrations remain 21 per cent below pre-pandemic 2019 levels

Large fleet registrations were up by 36.9 per cent to 76,207 units but registrations to private buyers fell slightly by 0.5 per cent to 65,932 cars, and smaller business fleets registered 3,065 units, a year-on-year rise of 22.5 per cent.

Petrol-powered cars remain Britain’s best sellers, accounting for 57.1 per cent of all registrations. Alternatively powered vehicles, however, continue to make up an ever-larger share of the market, with plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) rising 23.0 per cent to reach a 6.2 per cent market share and hybrids (HEVs) growing 22.2 per cent to comprise 12.3 per cent of all registrations. May saw battery electric vehicles consolidate their position as the UK’s second most popular powertrain. A further 24,513 joined the road during the month, up 58.7 per cent on May last year to secure a 16.9 per cent market share.