Tesla Model Y electronic car is the UK’s best-selling car for June 2023, with 11 overall registrationsthe th increased for one month in a row.
The family-friendly Tesla has just beaten the Ford Cougar, with the award-winning Vauxhall Corsa in third.
June 2023 performance means the Tesla Model Y is now the fourth best-selling car in the UK so far in 2023.
The Ford Puma has a clear lead over the Vauxhall Corsa in its performance so far this year, with the British-built Nissan Qashqai in third.
new car recovery
New car registrations rose an impressive 25.8% in June 2023 as supply chain shortages eased.
Industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said that meant waiting times were being shortened and pent-up demand was being met.
The auto industry is a “rare bright spot in a sluggish economic landscape.”
It did add, however, that overall market volume remains below pre-pandemic levels.
Driving demand for new vehicles was company car drivers, with fleet and enterprise sales up 37.9%. In contrast, sales to private buyers rose a below-average 14.8%.
UK new car registrations are up 18.4% so far this year, with just under 1 million new cars registered in the first half of 2023.
Electric up, diesel down
Demand for electric vehicles continues to surge, increasing by nearly 40% by June 2023. That’s despite the recent negative headlines surrounding EVs.
A 32.7% increase in EV registrations so far in 2023 means EVs are the second most popular car type in the UK, with a 16.1% share.
Still, demand for gasoline cars is growing: Nearly six in 10 of all new cars sold by 2023 will be equipped with a gasoline engine.
Hybrids accounted for 12.6% of the market, and plug-in hybrids accounted for 6.5%.
In contrast, demand for diesel vehicles fell by 18.6%, and the overall market share of diesel vehicles was only 7.9%, more than half that of electric vehicles.
Electric vehicle public charging VAT cut
To further stimulate EV demand, the SMMT has called for VAT cuts on public charging to accelerate EV adoption.
Household electricity is charged at a VAT rate of 5 percent; by comparison, public charging is charged at the full rate of 20 percent.
Since home charging is 70% cheaper than public charging, the SMMT wants to cut VAT on public charging.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Most EV owners enjoy the convenience and cost savings of charging at home, but those without driveways or designated parking spaces must pay four times as much in tax for the same amount of electricity.”
“It’s unfair and risks delaying further adoption, so cutting VAT on public EV charging would help make EV ownership fairer and more attractive to more people.”
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