GENSOCIAL
The number of new cars sold in the UK last year fell by almost a third amid the coronavirus crisis and uncertainty over Brexit, figures show.
New car registrations dropped to just over 1.6m, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which warned of a “rocky” few months ahead.
The trade organisation welcomed the Christmas Eve post-Brexit deal, but said a 10.9% decline in December wrapped up a “turbulent” 12 months, which saw demand fall by 680,076 units to the lowest level of registrations since 1992.
New car sales fell by around 29% on 2019, the biggest year-on-year decline since 1943.
The SMMT said that against a backdrop of Covid restrictions, an acceleration of the end of sale date for petrol and diesel cars to 2030, and Brexit uncertainty, the industry suffered a total turnover loss of more than £20bn.
But the organisation reported a “bumper” year for battery and plug-in hybrid electric cars, which accounted for more than one in 10 registrations, up from around one in 30 in 2019. Demand for battery electric vehicles grew by 185.9% to 108,205 units, while registrations of plug-in hybrids rose 91.2% to 66,877.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “2020 will be seen as a ‘lost year’ for automotive, with the sector under pandemic-enforced shutdown for much of the year and uncertainty over future trading conditions taking their toll.
“However, with the rollout of vaccines and clarity over our new relationship with the EU, we must make 2021 a year of recovery. With manufacturers bringing record numbers of electrified vehicles to market over the coming months, we will work with Government to encourage drivers to make the switch, while promoting investment in our globally-renowned manufacturing base – recharging the market, industry and economy.”
Mr Hawes said the last-minute Brexit trade deal was a “massive relief” to the automotive industry, avoiding a no-deal “disaster”, but he added that companies will still face more administration and red tape.
He added that the fresh lockdown across England and ongoing tough restrictions across the rest of the UK will further impact the automotive industry, warning that the coming months will be “rocky”.
The SMMT’s figures show huge drops in sales for major automotive companies, with Citroen, Hyundai, Mazda and Suzuki all seeing reductions in sales of more than 40% on 2019. Ford remained the country’s leading automotive brand, though it lost more than 80,000 sales on last year.
Unite national officer for the automotive industries Des Quinn said: “Last year was one where the UK automotive sector went into deep freeze because of Covid-19.
“However, as we enter 2021, there are strong signs of hope for the sector, the jewel in the crown of UK manufacturing, with the free trade deal with the EU now agreed and the vaccine programme coming on stream which will, eventually, restore consumer confidence.
“But this ‘thaw’ for the sector desperately needs a joined-up and coherent industrial strategy to ensure that a ‘green industrial revolution’ is in place for the next decade and beyond.”
