Aftermarket April 2022

W hile overall car sales production and sales figures continue to lag behind what was seen prior to the arrival of COVID-19, the rapidly rising popularity of electrified vehicles shows no signs of slowing down. While infrastructure investment continues to lag behind the surge in sales, and in some senses may in fact be going into reverse, more support for EV repairers continues to be offered. EV record broken but UK car production worst since 1956 Battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) represented 26.1% of all cars made in 2021, which was a new record, despite overall production hitting lows not seen since 1956. According to the full-year 2021 production figures from the SMMT, UK car production in 2021 was even worse than in 2020 as the effect of the worldwide semiconductor shortage, staff shortages and the ongoing aftershocks of the Coronavirus lockdowns continued to impact on the sector. 859,575 cars were built in the UK during the year, 6.7% down on 2020, which was itself a historically bad year for car production as a result of the pandemic. Taking COVID-19 out of the picture, production in 2021 was 34% down on 2019. However, EVs and hybrids represented more than a quarter of cars made, with 224,011 rolling off production lines up and down the country. Within that total, BEVs were up 72.0%, with hybrids up 16.4%. Commenting on the figures, SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said: “2021 was another incredibly difficult year for 58 AFTERMARKET APRIL 2022 TECHNICAL/EVS AND HYBRIDS www.aftermarketonline.net The EV and hybrid sector continues to be a talking point, as the need for greater investment in charge points and more becomes more apparent UK car manufacturing, one of the worst since the Second World War which lays bare the exposure of the sector to structural and, especially, Covid-related impacts. Despite this miserable year, there is optimism. With Brexit uncertainty largely overcome with the TCA deal, investments have been unleashed, most of which will help transform the sector to its zero-emission future. This is a vote of global confidence in the UK but must be matched by a commitment to our long-term competitiveness; Support for the supply chain in overcoming parts shortages, help with skills and training and, most urgently, measures to mitigate the escalating energy costs which are threatening viability.” The latest independent production outlook for 2022 forecasts UK car production to go up to more than 1 million units, a 19.7% increase on 2021, despite the closure of Honda in Swindon. With favourable conditions, car production could 1.1 million in 2025, with further growth after that. EV chargepoint surge as grant slips away? An EV charge point comparison site said saw a 100% increase in the number of requests for installations as the window for a grant closed. The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) Grant provided up to £350 off the cost of a home charging point for an EV, but was wound up on 31 March. Rightcharge has cited this as the most likely reason it experienced a 100% rise in the number of requests for charge point installs in recent months. Commenting on the demand surge prior to the end of the grant, Rightcharge founder Charlie Cook said: “We work with over 50 of the best charge point manufacturers and SURGING AHEAD