Aftermarket April 2022

APRIL 2022 AFTERMARKET 59 www.aftermarketonline.net installers in the UK, and we’ve seen a 100% rise in the number of requests for charge point installs between December and January, which indicates that Brits are moving fast to take advantage of the OZEV grant before it’s too late.” January new car sales get electric boost One in three new cars sold in January were electrified, with overall sales up 27.5% compared with the same month in 2021, according to figures from the SMMT. However, with 115,087 units sold still representing a 22.9% reduction on pre-pandemic January 2020, the overall market is still underperforming, with ongoing chip shortages affecting supply. BEVs, PHEVs and HEVs made up 71.5% of the increase in registrations. 14,433 BEVs and 9,047 PHEVs were registered, equating to 20.4% of the total. 13,492 HEVs were also registered, There are now more than 140 plug-in car models available to UK buyers, with almost 50 more scheduled for 2022. The latest market outlook forecasts registrations of BEVs and PHEVs to grow by 61% and 42% respectively in 2022. By the end of the year, almost one in four new cars would come with a plug. Overall, total new car registrations are expected to rise 15.2% on 2021, to 1.897 million units. Commenting on the figures, SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said: “Given the lockdown-impacted January 2021, this month’s figures were always going to be an improvement but it is still reassuring to see a strengthening market. Once again it is electrified vehicles that are driving the growth, despite the ongoing headwinds of chip shortages, rising inflation and the cost- of-living squeeze. 2022 is off to a reasonable start, however, and with around 50 new electrified models due for release this year, customers will have an ever-greater choice, which can only be good for our shared environmental ambitions.” According to James Fairclough, CEO of AA Cars, the supply constraints for new cars continue to make the second-hand market look attractive: “While the pandemic’s cooling effect on demand has eased, supply problems continue to dog the industry. Dealers cannot complete sales when the vehicles simply aren’t there to be delivered. “Such entrenched supply problems could take some time to improve. Official data shows that the number of new cars rolling off UK production lines has now fallen for two years in a row. With car factories in other countries similarly hit by the global shortage of semiconductors, the supply of new vehicles for sale may lag behind buyer demand for much of 2022.That’s why thousands of would-be new car buyers have switched their focus to the second-hand market instead. The availability of used vehicles is holding up well.” EV dealer accreditation scheme hits 300 members and launches aftersales programme The government-backed Electric Vehicle Approved (EVA) accreditation scheme, run by the NFDA for its franchised dealer membership, has reached 300 approved dealers and has launched a new Aftersales Pilot Group, focused on repairers only, to run alongside. The scheme was put together in 2019 by the NFDA to encourage retailers to enhance their EV expertise. It is endorsed and subsidised by the government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and is independently audited by Energy Saving Trust. The new Aftersales Pilot Group standards reflect the existing EVA framework, adapted to suit businesses who solely repair and service EVs. NFDA Chief Executive Sue Robinson commented: “As the number of EVs on the road continues to increase, EV repairers will also need to be recognised and we are delighted to further expand the EVA scheme into aftersales” She added: “We look forward to extending our collaboration with the government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and Energy Saving Trust, allowing EVA to continue to help electrifying transport.” For more information, visit: www.evaproved.co.uk As the number of EVs on the road continues to increase, EV repairers will also need to be recognised ”