UK new car registrations see best March performance since 2019

Britain’s new car ​registrations in March grew nearly 7 per cent year-on-year, ‌the best performance for the key sales month since 2019, driven largely by orders placed before the Iran crisis ​began, the industry said this week.

Total car registrations ​rose to 380,627 units in March, typically the ⁠busiest month of the year, the Society of ​Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.

“The headlines belie the ​costs incurred and the challenges involved,” SMMT Chief Mike Hawes said in a statement.

“Much of March’s performance will be from orders ​placed before the start of the Iran conflict, ​which threatens to raise the cost of living, undermining consumer ‌confidence.”

SMMT ⁠said the Middle East conflict may spark interest in Electric vehicles (EVs) but rising energy and supply chain costs can undermine consumer confidence. The conflict is projected ​to result in ​higher energy costs ⁠for Britain.

Battery electric vehicles recorded their best month in terms of volumes in ​March, though their overall market share ​remained at ⁠22.6 per cent, well below the government‑mandated target of 33 per cent for 2026, the SMMT said.

Tesla’s UK new registrations rose 20 per cent ⁠to ​8,599 units, trailing Chinese peer BYD’s (002594.SZ) ​133 per cent jump to 15,162 units.