British sales of electric cars soared in 2021, accounting for one in every four motors sold, but the market as a whole staged a limp recovery from the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic.
More electric cars were registered in 2021 than in the previous five years, with 191,000 registered, a rise of 75 per cent on the 108,000 sold in 2020, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
Meanwhile, the entire market saw 1.65 million new cars sold last year — a rise of just 1 per cent on 2020 and a 28.7 per cent contraction on 2019 figures.
“It's been another desperately disappointing year for the car industry as Covid continues to cast a pall over any recovery. Manufacturers continue to battle myriad challenges, with tougher trading arrangements, accelerating technology shifts and, above all, the global semiconductor shortage which is decimating supply,” SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said.
Britain’s car industry was hammered by the pandemic in 2020, with new car sales suffering the biggest fall since the 1940s as Covid-enforced showroom closures took their toll with a decline in sales of 29 per cent on 2019.
However, the expected recovery did not materialise in 2021 as the supply chain crisis saw a global chip shortage that halted manufacturing in factories across the world as semiconductors are vital components in modern cars with up to 3,000 used per vehicle.
The only bright spark in the last year’s figures was the rapid switch to electric transport with Tesla’s Model 3 the top seller in its category, with 34,783 cars sold.
Almost 18 per cent of all new cars registered in 2021 can be plugged in, which is in addition to the 147,246 hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) registered meaning 27.5 per cent of the total market is now electrified in some form.
In December, petrol cars accounted for just 46 per cent of total sales in December, while electric cars took a 26 per cent share — its second-highest level behind the 33 per cent recorded in April 2020 — with Tesla making up 36 per cent of all new electric car purchases with 9,300 sales.
The brand also lead the market overall with a 9 per cent market share in December, compared to Volkswagen’s 8 per cent and Audi’s 7 per cent.
Top 10 best-selling electric vehicles in the UK in 2021 – in pictures
The switch to electric cars will be welcomed by the government, which is banning the sale of petrol and diesel powered cars by 2030 to help the country meet its net zero target by 2050.
However, Mr Hawes criticised the government’s decision to reduce the maximum value of a grant to bring down the cost of an electric car to £1,500 from £2,500.
“It’s a confusing message,” he said. “It’s a massive ambition to get the entire market to move to meet net zero by 2030/2035. Anything that brings into doubt that commitment doesn’t help a consumer who might be wavering.”
The trade body also raised concerns over the number on-street public charging points needed to meet the demand from new electric car owners.
“We need to boost the roll out of public on-street charging with mandated targets, providing every driver, wherever they live, with the assurance they can charge where they want and when they want,” said Mr Hawes.
Separately, petrol and diesel retailers have been criticised for not passing on wholesale price savings to consumers, according to the nation’s main motoring organisation, the RAC
Prices in the UK ended the year below November’s record-highs, but the drops in wholesale fuel costs in December have not yet been reflected in pump prices.
Retailers are making an average of £0.16 a litre on petrol, instead of £0.06 pence as usual, the group says.
“The 10 pence extra retailers have added to their long-term margin of 6 pence a litre has led to petrol car drivers paying £5 million more a day than they previously would have,” according to RAC fuel spokesperson Simon Williams.
UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the government has done its part.
“I think it’s important that retailers pass on these reductions as well,” he added.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Porsche Macan T: The Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec
Top speed: 232kph
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
On sale: May or June
Price: From Dh259,900
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The National selections
Al Ain
5pm: Bolereau
5.30pm: Rich And Famous
6pm: Duc De Faust
6.30pm: Al Thoura
7pm: AF Arrab
7.30pm: Al Jazi
8pm: Futoon
Jebel Ali
1.45pm: AF Kal Noor
2.15pm: Galaxy Road
2.45pm: Dark Thunder
3.15pm: Inverleigh
3.45pm: Bawaasil
4.15pm: Initial
4.45pm: Tafaakhor
EMILY%20IN%20PARIS%3A%20SEASON%203
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THE BIO
Favourite author - Paulo Coelho
Favourite holiday destination - Cuba
New York Times or Jordan Times? NYT is a school and JT was my practice field
Role model - My Grandfather
Dream interviewee - Che Guevara
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
More on animal trafficking
Vaccine Progress in the Middle East
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
The Energy Research Centre
Founded 50 years ago as a nuclear research institute, scientists at the centre believed nuclear would be the “solution for everything”.
Although they still do, they discovered in 1955 that the Netherlands had a lot of natural gas. “We still had the idea that, by 2000, it would all be nuclear,” said Harm Jeeninga, director of business and programme development at the centre.
"In the 1990s, we found out about global warming so we focused on energy savings and tackling the greenhouse gas effect.”
The energy centre’s research focuses on biomass, energy efficiency, the environment, wind and solar, as well as energy engineering and socio-economic research.
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
