Here’s some reaction to the 24% rise in UK car sales in April:
James Hosking, managing director of AA Cars:
“April’s figures suggest the new car market has maintained momentum beyond the March plate-change boost, which is an encouraging sign for the industry.
“While March typically does the heavy lifting, sustained demand into April points to underlying resilience among buyers, even as economic pressures remain.
“However, the market is still operating against a complex backdrop. Persistently high fuel prices, driven in part by ongoing tensions in the Middle East, are continuing to influence consumer decisions.
“That’s helping to accelerate interest in electric vehicles, as drivers look for more certainty over running costs. For many, the appeal of EVs is no longer just environmental, but increasingly financial.
Colin Walker, head of transport at the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU):
“With prices at the pump rising as a result of war in the Middle East, it’s no surprise to see EV sales jumping 59% in April. Drivers are voting with their feet seeking to shield themselves from these sudden jumps in the oil price, and save hundreds - even thousands - of pounds a year in running costs. Just recently Autotrader pointed out that EV sticker prices are now cheaper on average than petrol cars.
“With more than a quarter of new cars sold now EVs this reduces the UK’s demand for oil boosting energy security, with electric cars increasingly powered by electricity generated in British wind and solar farms. Calls from parts of the car industry to slow down the UK’s switch to EVs risks leaving our car industry in the slow lane, our drivers worse off, and the UK less energy secure. This is another step on the road to achieving net zero emissions.”
Ian Plummer, chief customer officer at Autotrader:
“Despite a backdrop of geopolitical instability, UK car buying positivity continued apace in April with the UK’s new car market seeing a massive year-on-year increase, and an April monthly performance that is the nearest we’ve been to pre-pandemic highs. While this year-on-year growth is in part driven by comparison with last years’ changes to VED rates and Expensive Car Supplement, with new car enquiries surging by 43% on Autotrader, it looks increasingly as if the higher levels of competition from new brands entering the market, a continued surge of exciting new launches - as well as enhanced consumer offers - are driving car buyers back into showrooms in ever bigger numbers.
As well as a strong month for electric sales, April also marked two consecutive months of average new EV pricing sitting below petrol, ending the month with a £455 price gap – up from £296 in March.”
