UK car registrations fell 20.6% to 124,394 units in May as supply shortages continued to hamper new purchases and the fulfilment of existing orders, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

It was the second weakest May since 1992, after the 2020 pandemic-hit market. The UK car market in May was 32.3% below the 2019 pre-pandemic level despite strong order books.

While private consumer purchases fell 10.3%, their market share increased year-on-year by 6.1 percentage points to 53.2%, in part due to manufacturers striving to fulfil deliveries – particularly of electric vehicles – to private buyers.

May saw registrations of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) rise by 17.7%, representing one in eight new cars joining the road last month. Plug-in hybrids declined 25.5%, while hybrids were up 12.0%, meaning deliveries of electrified vehicles accounted for three in 10 new cars.

The supply chain challenge has contributed to an overall market decline in the year to date of 8.7%, equivalent to 62,724 fewer units. This is 40.6% below the five-year average recorded from January to May, as the new car market continues to struggle to emerge from the impact of the pandemic.