Deloitte comments on new SMMT car reg figures for April 2024

Jamie Hamilton, automotive partner and head of electric vehicles at Deloitte, said:

"New car sales recorded 21 consecutive months of growth in April. The marginal growth seen this month was supported entirely by an uptick of electric and hybrid vehicle sales. However, overall market share remains at 16% year-to-date so there is more work to be done.

“For manufacturers to reach their zero emission vehicle targets and for battery electric vehicles to occupy the roads, sales need to increase across the board. While sales of battery electric vehicles to large fleets increase, private retail demand is subdued.

“Private consumers will be looking for financial incentives to help them transition away from combustion engines. With the supply issues of the last few years now behind us, some manufacturers are starting to provide discounts through their retail networks in order to drive interest and grow sales.

“Lack of accessible electric vehicle charging infrastructure continues to be the biggest barrier for many looking to make the switch. While the amount of public charging points continues to grow, more needs to be done to accelerate this further and improve accessibility to the preexisting infrastructure.

“The used car market can also facilitate this, as one of the biggest issues in the uptake of battery electric vehicles alongside charging, is affordability. New proposals targeting this specific area, such as used car salary sacrifice schemes, can help stimulate growth.”