If you are a taxi driver or own your own taxi business then you may find it of interest to hear that the number of new cars registered here in the UK rose in April 2024. Of course, it may be that not too many taxi drivers are in the financial position to go to the expense of buying a new taxi especially in the current economic climate.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the number of new cars purchased in April 2024 amounted to 134,274. For the same month in 2023, the number of new cars registered totalled 132,990. That is an increase of 1.00%. Although this may not seem a very big increase it is a step in the right direction. In fact, this is the 21st month in a row that new car sales have risen and let us hope that this is a pattern that continues.

There has also been a big rise in new car sales on a year to date basis to April 2024 with 679,822 being sold compared to only 627,250 for the same period to last year. That is a commendable rise of 8.4%.

When you look at the three sectors for new car sales in percentage terms – private, fleet and business for both the above periods it is the fleet market that has seen the biggest rises.

On a year to date basis to April 2024, the number on new petrol fueled cars sold amounted to 381,802 compared to 357,912 for the same period in 2023. That is a rise of 6.7%. Such cars have 56.2% of the market share. Diesel fueled new cars sold amounted to 46,304 for the year to date to April 2024 compared to 51,336 on a year to date basis to April 2023 – that is a drop of 9.8% and a market share of 6.8%. The sale of new electric cars rose with Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) amounting to 107,031 for the year to date basis to April 2024, Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (PHEVs) amounting to 53,052 and Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) amounting to 91,633.

On a year to date basis to April 2024 the top 3 selling new cars in the UK were: –

1. Ford Puma 19,393
2. Nissan Qashqai 17,050
3. Kia Sportage 15,824

We will, of course, continue to update you with relevant statistics.