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StatementsElectric vehicles

RAC comment on May new car sales figures

Sales of new cars were down 14.7% last month compared with May 2019, new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reveal, but plug-in vehicles are taking an increasing share of the new car market.

RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: “May was a very significant month for the sale of battery electric cars as the 13,120 sold took the total number registered since 2010 past the 250,000 milestone. So far this year the number of pure electric cars sold has already surpassed that of 2019 and is half the total sold last year. This is a clear sign that drivers are embracing electric and with fewer restrictions it looks like even better BEV sales figures will be posted in the coming months.
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“With more and more of our patrol vans being kitted out with our industry-leading lightweight EV chargers fears about running out of juice mid-journey are fast disappearing which should give even more drivers the confidence to make the switch to electric.”

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About RAC Media Centre

The RAC Media Centre provides journalists and news outlets with the latest motoring-related news, comment, data and research.

The RAC is an iconic UK brand, and provides complete peace of mind to 15 million UK private and business drivers - whatever their motoring needs. As well as its premium nationwide breakdown assistance service – with an expert branded patrol workforce attending more than two million breakdowns every year – and European breakdown assistance products, it offers a wide range of market-leading products across insurance, legal services, vehicle inspections and service, maintenance and repair. Included in this is the first-of-its-kind nationwide Mobile Mechanics service which brings the garage to homes and workplaces. 

At the forefront of new solutions for business fleets and consumers, the RAC’s breakdown service is electric-ready with mobile EV charging technology and be called on using myRAC – its all-in-one route planner, fuel finder and breakdown reporting app. 

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