November new car registrations were up more than 20% on the same month last year, however economic pressures are beginning to show their presence in the new car market. 

Order banks for the best rated vehicles, particularly in the electric car market, are still bulging. However those cars seen as more run-of-the-mill are seeing demand weaken quickest, according to sources within car manufacturers and car dealers that Electrifying.com has spoken to. They report that while order banks of a few months across the board are still the norm, there are fewer fresh orders for many models. 

While November this year was up 23.5% on 2021, the year-to-date figure is still down 3.4% and the final figure for the full year looks set to be below 2021 too.However, electric car demand has kept the market from falling much further. Sales of new fully electric cars are running up 38.0% in the first 11 months of 2022. Excluding fully electric vehicles the new car market is running down more than 8%. 

The overall trends are backed up by data about individual makes and models.November saw the Tesla Model Y take second place in the sales chart – behind the Nissan Qashqai. With the MINI and Vauxhall Corsa, which have fully electric versions, also doing well taking third and fifth place in the chart respectively. 

Brands with popular electric cars such as Volkswagen, Audi, Kia, Tesla, Hyundai and MG also all performed well in November. 

Commenting on the figures, Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, called for more government support for electric cars: “As the sector looks to ensure that growth is sustainable for the long term, urgent measures are required – not least a fair approach to driving EV adoption that recognises these vehicles remain more expensive, and measures to compel investment in a charging network that is built ahead of need. By doing so we can encourage consumer appetite across the country and accelerate the UK’s journey to net zero.”

The Nissan Qashqai took the number one spot for the month