Registrations of new cars down by 5% in July, figures suggest

Registrations of new cars fell by 5% last month, preliminary figures suggest.

Approximately 140,000 new cars were registered in July, compared with 147,517 during the same month in 2024.

Battery electric vehicles (Bevs) held a 21% share of the new car market last month.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which released the preliminary figures, slightly upgraded its forecast for full-year new car registrations, to 1.9 million.

Registrations in 2024 reached 1.95 million.

Bevs are forecast to hold a full-year market share of 23.8%.

At least 28% of new cars sold by each manufacturer in the UK this year are required to be zero emission – which generally means pure electric – under the Government’s zero emission vehicle mandate.

The first electric car models eligible f