Sales of new cars last month crashed to their lowest September level since 1999, the year in which the registration year identifier changed to biannual.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) revealed that registrations fell by 35% year-on-year to 214,000 as the global semiconductor shortage continued to hit car manufacturers.
September is normally a bumper month for sales of new cars as it is one of the two months in the year when the “new” registration year identifier kicks in but aside from a sharp increase in the sales of electric vehicles (EVs), there was little to cheer for car dealers last month.
The SMMT reported that registrations of EVs rose to a record 32,000 last month. The new owners have probably spent the time since feeling extremely smug as they drive past queues of petrol and diesel-fuelled cars at the local petrol station.
UK September New Car Registrations Report - SMMT
SMMT Monthly Reporthttps://t.co/WUlN5js5qd pic.twitter.com/aiyffzpLfj
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