Yahoo Finance Here's the UK's best-selling car in January as EV sales surge
The best-selling car in the UK in January was the Kia Sportage, with 3,458 registrations in the month, according to new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The SUV is available with four different powertrains, including hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid. Electric vehicles accounted for 71.5% of new car sales in January.
Drivers of Kia's electric vehicles can sign up to its charging app which provides access to the largest number of public charging networks in the UK, and other charging networks across 28 other European countries.
The Ford Puma came in at number two, with 2,608 units sold, followed by the Kia Niro, MINI, the Vauxhall Corsa and the Hyundai Tucson.
Plug in vehicles were particularly popular with 14,433 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and 9,047 plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) registered — equal to 20.4% of the market.
Some 13,492 hybrid vehicles (HEVs) were also registered, meaning almost one in three new cars joining British roads in January was electrified.
Read more: Electric vehicles should be taxed to plug £35bn fiscal hole, say MPs
New car sales in the UK rose 27.5% in January, compared to the year before when lockdown restrictions kept showrooms shut.
The SMMT said 115,087 new cars joined the UK roads in the month. However, this was still 22.9% lower than pre-pandemic figures seen in January 2020, as car makers continue to struggle with the impact of chip shortages on supply.
Average new car CO2 emissions fell by 11.2% in 2021, to its lowest ever recorded level of 119.7g/km, according to the SMMT. There are now more than 140 plug-in car models available to UK buyers, with almost 50 more scheduled to be brought to market this year.
However, more motorists need to switch to electric vehicles in order to cut emissions but consumer perceptions of a lack of charging infrastructure is currently standing in the way of more Brits making the switch, the SMMT said.
The SMMT is calling on the government to support the switch through purchase incentives and reduced motoring taxes to help accelerate the take-up so that the road transport sector can meet society’s net zero timeline.
Registrations of BEVs and PHEVs are forecast to grow by 61% and 42% respectively in 2022, according to the latest market outlook, meaning that, by the end of the year, almost one in four new cars would come with a plug.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: "Once again it is electrified vehicles that are driving the growth, despite the ongoing headwinds of chip shortages, rising inflation and the cost-of-living squeeze.
"2022 is off to a reasonable start, however, and with around 50 new electrified models due for release this year, customers will have an ever greater choice, which can only be good for our shared environmental ambitions.”
Best selling cars in the UK in January:
1. Kia Sportage
2. Ford Puma
3. Kia Niro
4. MINI
5. Vauxhall Corsa
6. Hyundai Tucson
7. Vauxhall Mokka
8. Ford Focus
9. Volkswagen T-Roc
10. Toyota Corolla
