EVs outsell petrol cars for first time in UK
Figures for new car registrations in December 2024 show major milestone reached in transition to electric
According to the latest report published by New AutoMotive, electrically powered cars accounted for 31.4% of all new registrations in the UK in December 2024. This figure is a two-year high and the first time ever that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have been the most popular fuel type. Total vehicle sales for 2024 were higher than for 2023, ‘but only because of battery electric sales,’ concludes the report.
Photo by Ernest Ojeh
By contrast, just 26.9% of new registrations in December 2024 were for purely petrol-powered cars, a marked reduction since December 2023 when the figure was 37%. Even where people are not buying fully electric cars, the trend is towards more sustainable powertrains. Hybrid electric vehicles accounted for 28.1% of new registrations, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) accounted for 8.9%. That leaves just 4.7% of new registrations for diesel and other fuel types.
December 2024 was the fifth consecutive month that BEVs represented more than 20% of sales; the average for the whole of 2024 was 19.7%. Some 59% of all sales of Jaguar vehicles in December were EVs. Other brands have also seen significant sales of EVs: Mini (50%), Cupra (49%), Audi (45%), BMW (39%), Mercedes (38%), Hyundai (30%) and VW (29%).
The report notes that while Renault (27.3%) and Ford (20.1%) are rather lagging behind, these figures are still the highest proportion of BEV sales for both brands in 2024 – which the authors of the report see as part of a trend: ‘Consumers will flock to EVs at the right price.’
From this, the authors conclude that discounts and subsidies being offered on EVs are sustainable, despite reports to the contrary, adding that discounts on petrol and hybrid vehicles are higher anyway.
The New AutoMotive report tracks the sales against the 22% target for zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and also breaks down the data for types of vehicle: cars, vans, HGVs and motorbikes.
Ben Nelmes, CEO of New AutoMotive, says: ‘Electric vehicles topped the charts in December, marking the first month where fully electric cars were the most popular choice for motorists. This is great news for motorists, who benefit from reduced running costs, the country, which benefits from increased energy security, and the environment and air quality.
‘This impressive progress is being driven by smart government policy that rewards first movers and incentivises progressive carmakers, who are investing billions in the net zero transition. As Ministers weigh the future of this policy, they should bear in mind that it is delivering value for motorists and taxpayers, as well as attracting investment into the UK.’
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