RAC reaction: SMMT: Two straight years of growth for new car market

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “It's good news the new car market continues to grow. While sales of battery-electric EVs need to speed up from the current 18.5% share of all new cars sold to hit the mandate target of 22% this year, it's important to recognise the overall trajectory EVs are on. Back in the first seven months of 2019, only 14,000 battery-electric vehicles were sold compared to 194,431 so far this year.  

“However, more needs to be done to ramp up private demand which is why we'd like to see the Government reintroduce a new version of the plug-in car grant targeted at the cheaper end of the new car market. Manufacturers will inevitably play their part as they will have to discount to hit the 22% sales target, which will lead to more people being tempted to make the move to electric. And if the new Government honours its manifesto commitment to bring forward the 2030 date for the sale of new combustion cars from 2035, then the rate of transition will speed up even more.”