As the UK automotive industry scrambles to fulfill government targets for the adoption of electric vehicles despite worries about sluggish private-buyer demand, the robust September performance—which normally accounts for around one in seven yearly registrations—offers a lift. Preliminary data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows that new car registrations in the UK increased 13.7% in September to 312,887, with electrified vehicles accounting for over half of registrations for the first time. In a statement, SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said, “Electrified vehicles are powering UK market growth after a sluggish summer.” He also mentioned that the Electric Car Grant would help remove barriers to cost for drivers.
According to a New AutoMotive analysis released on Friday, Tesla’s growth in the UK was almost unchanged year over year. In another story, BYD CEO Wang Chuanfu stated in an interview with China’s national television station that China’s electric vehicles are around three to five years ahead of the competition in terms of products, technology, and the industrial chain. Following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s symposium with some of the leading figures in China’s technology industry, Wang was interviewed on Monday. Business executives spoke at the meeting, including Wang. The United States and the European Union impose tariffs on China’s electric car exports, with the EU levying a 17.0% duty on BYD’s EVs. In 2023, China surpassed Japan as the world’s largest auto exporter.
Wang claimed that protectionism does not work for high-quality items in an interview with Yuyuan Tantian, a social media account connected to China’s state broadcaster CCTV. The EV manufacturer is being encouraged to “overcome various difficulties” by the favor of consumers, he continued.
