Electrified vehicles accounted for more than a third (34%) of all new car registrations in March 2022, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
According to SMMT’s statistics for March, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) continue to enjoy “tremendous growth” and had their best ever month.
In total 39,315 new zero emission cars were registered – an increase of 78.7% on last year – and took a more than 16% market share.
SMMT said this is the highest volume of BEV registrations ever recorded in a single month, and means more were registered in March 2022 than during the entirety of 2019.
Meanwhile registrations of plug-in hybrid (PHEVs) declined by 7.5% to 16,037 units, but hybrids (HEVs) grew by more than 28% to 27,737 units.
As a result, electrified vehicles comprised more than a third of all new car registrations.
Despite the strong figures reported for electrified vehicles, overall registrations declined by more than 14% to 243,479 units, the weakest March since 1998, as supply chain shortages due to the pandemic and continuing uncertainty over Ukraine put constraints on the sector.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Placing orders now will be beneficial for those looking to take advantage of incentives and lower running costs for electric vehicles, especially as the Ukraine crisis could affect supply still further.
“With increasing household and business costs, government must do all it can to support consumers so that the growth of electric vehicles can be sustained and the UK’s ambitious net zero timetable delivered.”