UK drivers are switching to electric vehicles (EVs) when it’s time to buy a new car, as the best-selling car in March was revealed to be Tesla’s Model Y.
More than eight thousand (8,123) Tesla Model Ys hit UK roads in March, making it the country’s best-selling car that month, according to figures from Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The latest Tesla Model Y is an all-electric compact SUV capable of running for 330 miles on a single battery charge. UK prices start from £44,000.
In second place we have the Nissan Juke, with 7,532 units sold last month. This Nissan model, which is actually the best-selling car in the UK for the first three months of the year combined, is a small hybrid SUV.
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Number three shows another Nissan, this time the Nissan Qashqai, which is another small SUV with a hybrid engine.
Designed, engineered and built in Britain, the Qashqai was voted the UK’s most reliable car after a survey of 50,000 UK consumers.
The Kia Sportage sold 5,888 units in March, enough to secure fourth place, ahead of the Hyundai Tucson, which sold 5,680.
Ford Puma is in sixth place and Vauxhall Corsa in number seven, after selling 5,652 and 5,588 units respectively.
The MINI, Toyota Yaris Cross and Ford Fiesta round out the top ten best-selling cars in the UK last month.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “The new plate month of March usually sets the tone for the year, so this performance will give more confidence to the industry and consumers.
“With eight consecutive months of growth, the auto industry is recovering, bucking broader trends and supporting economic growth.
“The best month ever for zero-emission vehicles reflects increased consumer choice and improved availability, but if the ambitions and regulation of the electric vehicle market are to be met, investment in infrastructure must catch up.”
March was the biggest month on record for new pure battery electric car registrations, with 46,626 deliveries.
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In total, some 287,825 new cars were registered last month, 18.2% more than in March 2022.
The increase was attributed to a decrease in shortages in the global supply chain.
Large fleets, which include vehicles owned by organizations such as government agencies and rental companies, drove new car adoption with a 40.9% increase. Deliveries to private buyers increased by just 1.4%.
March is seen as an indicator of the performance of the automotive industry as new registrations are introduced, which traditionally lead to increased demand.
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