‘Skewed’ figures masking growth of EV sales, says lobby group

A row has broken out between Britain’s leading motor industry trade body and an electric car lobby group over the presentation of data which appeared to indicate that diesel cars were outselling battery electrics.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the main voice of Britain’s automotive sector, has been accused by Electric Vehicles UK, a group that campaigns against what it calls the “myths and lies” around the electric car market, of using “skewed” sales data covering registrations during the September number plate change.
At issue is commentary from the SMMT on the new car sales which stated: “Private battery electric vehicle demand rose, up 3.6 per cent after unprecedented manufacturer discounting, but this was equivalent to just 410 additional registrations.
“Consumer demand for diesel grew at a faster rate, increasing 17.1 per cent in September, a volume uplift of 1,367 units.”
The September registrations showed that in total pure electric car sales rose 24 per cent to a monthly record of 56,300 units, accounting for 20 per cent of the market.
In contrast diesel sales reached new lows, down a further 7 per cent in the month to 17,500 for a 6.4 per cent share of the market.
The society’s commentary concentrated on the retail sale of vehicles to private motorists as opposed to those sold to fleets and businesses or as company cars, which enjoy incentives and tax benefits. The September data showed that diesel sales to private buyers rose from 7,900 to 9,300. Sales of electric cars to private buyers was higher but growing at a slower rate, rising from 11,500 to 11,900.
The lobby group said that the trade body’s presentation of the data was “cited as evidence of a behavioural shift back to diesel” when in fact it was a “misrepresentation of the figures which ignores the progress car makers have made, is putting off consumers from switching to EVs and giving policymakers the impression that the transition isn’t working”.
Andy Palmer, a former chief executive of Aston Martin, an adviser to the lobby group and the executive who led the launch of the Nissan Leaf electric car and who has interests in battery development and public recharging, said: “The September figures show the UK electric vehicle market is now growing faster than in either France or Germany. Diesel market share is down on the month while battery electric, hybrid and plug-in-hybrid registrations are all up.”
In response Mike Hawes, chief executive of the trade industry body, said that the current industry price-cutting to promote the sales of electric cars was “unsustainable in the long term”. He added: “Despite this support the market is still not moving at the pace industry, government and society needs. The glaring lack of government support for the private buyer is constraining demand such that other older and more polluting technologies continue to outstrip electric cars. This is no ‘victory’.”