THE UK’S BEST SELLING NEW CAR IN 2022 IS… Short new car news.

The latest full year figures from the Society Of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that the 2022 UK new car market fell -2.0% compared to the 2021 pandemic-effected year.

Once again semiconductors and supply chain issues were the main reasons for this fall in the UK new car registrations with many manufacturers prioritising deliveries of their electric vehicles over their internal combustion engines.

The Nissan Qashqai topped the best selling car for 2022 followed by the Vauxhall Corsa and wait for it…The Tesla Model Y.

December 2022 followed the trend of the last 4 months recording growth. A total of 128,462 new cars were registered last month which is an 18.3% increase..

Tesla occupy the first 2 top steps of December 2022 with the Model Y followed by the Model 3 and the Nissan Qashqai coming in 3^rd.

The automotive market remains adrift of its pre-pandemic performance but could well buck wider economic trends by delivering significant growth in 2023. To secure that growth – which is increasingly zero emission growth – government must help all drivers go electric and compel others to invest more rapidly in nationwide charging infrastructure. Manufacturers’ innovation and commitment have helped EVs become the second most popular car type. However, for a nation aiming for electric mobility leadership, that must be matched with policies and investment that remove consumer uncertainty over switching, not least over where drivers can charge their vehicles.

Looking ahead, supply chains are beginning to stabilise and although the shortage of semiconductors is expected to ease, erratic supply will likely impact manufacturing throughout 2023. The most recent market outlook, published in October 2022, anticipates around 1.8 million new car registrations in 2023, worth around £8.4 billion in additional turnover.

Said Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive.

Data from Society Of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).