More electric cars sold in March than all of 2019 Business

Automakers around the world are still struggling to source enough chips after the factories that produce them shut down at the start of the pandemic nearly two years ago. Compounding these problems is a shortage of some auto parts made in Ukraine, such as electrical wiring harnesses.

These shortages have helped drive up the cost of new and used cars.

Overall sales fell to their lowest point since 1998 in March, which is usually a popular month as it is the first month of the new record year.

The biggest drop came from purchases by large fleet operators, with sales down by more than a third. Manufacturers prioritized private buyers and small businesses for the vehicles they had, SMMT said.

SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said: “This performance is deeply disappointing and lays bare the challenges ahead. While demand remains robust, this decline illustrates the severity of the global shortage of semiconductors.

The Tesla Model Y and Model 3 were followed by the Vauxhall Corsa, which topped the sales chart for the year to date.

As growth accelerates, the industry worries about the number of public electric charging stations available to attract those who drive long distances and don’t have a driveway or garage.

Many electric car buyers use them to get around or have a second gas-powered car.

Sales of split-vans fell by more than a quarter after a sales boom last year. The van market is lagging behind passenger cars in electrification, with only 6% of sales.