New car sales in the UK slipped by around 2% in August compared with the same month a year earlier, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The industry body said 58,967 new cars were registered last month, down from roughly 60,200 in August 2024. The decline marks the second consecutive monthly fall, reflecting a slowdown in consumer demand amid high borrowing costs and economic uncertainty.
Sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) remained steady, accounting for just over 17% of registrations, but growth has cooled from earlier in the year as customers await new models and clarity on government incentives. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles saw modest gains, offsetting steeper declines in petrol and diesel models.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said the market remained “resilient” but called for stronger policy support to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. “We need a clear and consistent strategy to boost consumer confidence and charging infrastructure as we head into the critical autumn selling season,” he said.
August is typically a quieter month for the UK auto sector ahead of the September plate-change surge, but the data will raise questions about the strength of demand heading into the final quarter of the year.
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