Record-Breaking March for UK Car Registrations

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reported a significant 12.4% annual increase in car registrations across the United Kingdom, totaling 357,103 units in March. This marks a historic high for the month, underscored by a dramatic shift towards electric vehicles.

Shift Towards Electric Vehicles

While traditional petrol and diesel vehicles saw declines of 0.4% and 10.1% respectively, electric vehicles (EVs) experienced unprecedented growth. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) led the charge with a 43.2% increase, followed by plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and hybrids (HEVs) with rises of 37.9% and 27.7% respectively. "March became the largest month ever for registrations of electric cars," highlighted the SMMT.

Year-to-Date Growth

Overall, the first quarter of the year saw a 6.4% increase in car registrations compared to the same period last year, reaching a total of 580,502 units. This growth reflects the accelerating transition to greener transportation options among UK consumers.