Vauxhall Corsa-e revealed as best-selling small electric vehicle for 2021
The Vauxhall Corsa-e recorded the highest number of sales for 2021 year-to-date in the small battery electric vehicle sector, according to latest industry figures.
Data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) found that the new Corsa-e was the best-selling small BEV so far this year with 1,706 sales to date.
The statistics also found that, unusually, plug-in hybrids were more popular than battery electric vehicles, which the SMMT attributed to a cut to the Government’s plug-in car grant.
BEVs are now expected to account for 8.9% of registrations by year-end – down from the 9.3% initially forecast in January, in light of March’s changes to the plug-in car grant.
Commenting on the results, Paul Willcox, managing director of Vauxhall, said: “We’re proud that the Corsa-e is the UK’s best-selling small EV. Customer interest in electric cars and vans in the UK is at an all-time high and Vauxhall is continually expanding its line-up to offer class-leading electrified vehicles, not least with a fully electric van line-up to come before the end of the year.”
The figures also revealed that ultra-low emission vehicles now account for more than half-a-million cars on British roads. This comes after it was revealed last month that the UK had also replaced France as Europe’s second largest market for electric cars.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, commented: “After one of the darkest years in automotive history, there is light at the end of the tunnel. A full recovery for the sector is still some way off, but with showrooms open and consumers able to test drive the latest, cleanest models, the industry can begin to rebuild.
“Market confidence is improving, and we now expect to finish the year in a slightly better position than anticipated in February, largely thanks to the more upbeat business and consumer confidence created by the successful vaccine rollout. That confidence should also translate into another record year for electric vehicles, which will likely account for more than one in seven new car registrations.”
