According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the Nissan Qashqai was the best-selling car in November, followed by the Tesla Model Y and MINI.
Some 142,889 new cars were registered last month, up 23.5% on the same month in 2021. Overall, November registrations were 8.8% below pre-COVID levels, as per Finance Yahoo UK.
The most in-demand supermini and lower medium vehicle segments increased by 21.5% and 20.5%, while dual-purpose vehicles grew by 21.8%.
Notably, there was also growth in luxury saloon and multi-purpose vehicles, up by 87.3% and 288.6%. However, these segments remain a small market section.
UK’s best-selling car in November
November’s best-seller, the Nissan Qashqai, remains the number one car sold this 2022 this year with 5,636 units sold.
Electric vehicles are still popular in the UK, with the Tesla Model Y selling 4,229 units, which makes it the second best-selling EV model of the month.
A British favorite, the MINI, tops number three. The addition of the fully-electric model helped increase sales figures to 3,312 units laid out of the assembly line and straight to UK roads.
The Ford Fiesta ranked number four, followed by the Vauxhall Corsa, Volkswagen Golf, and Ford Puma.
Plug-in EVs make up 27.7% of new vehicle registrations
Plug-in EVs account for more than one in four (27.7%) new registrations, with BEVs taking their largest monthly share of the new car market this year.
Sales of petrol-powered cars were up 15% year-on-year, while diesel fell more than 5%.
The SMMT expects more new cars to be sold next year compared with 2022. However, it anticipates demand to remain below pre-COVID levels.
Recovery for Britain’s new car market is back within our grasp, energised by electrified vehicles and the sector’s resilience in the face of supply and economic challenges. As the sector looks to ensure that growth is sustainable for the long term, urgent measures are required — not least a fair approach to driving EV adoption that recognises these vehicles remain more expensive, and measures to compel investment in a charging network that is built ahead of need.
Chief executive Mike Hawes
He added that they are doing what they can to boost customer appetite across the country and speed up the UK’s journey to net zero.
Even though sales of electric cars have jumped more than a third in the past year, there are big question marks over how long this will last. Our data shows the cost-of-living crisis and high electricity prices are turning people away from EVs.
Ian Plummer, director of automotive classified advertising company Auto Trader
Retailer’s BEV sales in November
Plummer explained that BEVs amounted to 19% of retailers’ sales leads last month, in contrast with more than a quarter in June.
