The variety of vehicles on Britain’s roads hit a record high in 2024, climbing 1.4% to 41.96 million, based on fresh Motorparc figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Cars led the charge, with 470,556 more hitting the roads, bringing the full to 36.17 million – the third straight 12 months of growth and the second biggest annual jump since 2016. Behind the rise is a powerful latest automobile market and booming battery EV uptake, with BEVs accounting for nearly 20% of latest registrations last 12 months.
Vans also hit a brand new high, up 1.8% to over 5.1 million – one million greater than in 2015. HGVs and buses held regular, though the UK’s public transport fleet is now the smallest on record.
Nevertheless it’s EVs which can be powering the shift. The variety of plug-in vehicles surged 34.6% to 2.16 million, now making up 1 in every 20 vehicles. BEVs alone jumped 38.9% to 1.33 million, crossing the million-car milestone and accounting for 3.7% of all cars in use – a full percentage point rise from 2023.
Despite the electrical rise, petrol cars still dominate, with 21 million in use (up 1%), while diesels continued their slide – down 4.4% to 11.6 million, their fifth consecutive annual fall.
The shift to cleaner cars is working. Average CO₂ emissions fell 1.6%, with company automobile emissions dropping 5.6% due to stronger EV fleet incentives. Private automobile emissions nudged down just 1%, underscoring the decision for more consumer support to speed up decarbonisation.
However the parc is ageing with the common automobile on the road now 9.5 years old, up from 9.3 in 2023 and well above the 8-year average seen just five years ago. Greater than 43% of cars have been in service for over a decade – predating cleaner Euro 6 standards.
Industrial vehicles are going greener too. Zero-emission buses jumped 81.8% to three,494 – nearly 5% of the fleet – while battery vans rose 31.6% to 80,476. Electric trucks remain rare but on the rise.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Britain’s vehicle parc is growing, providing essential mobility for the nation while reducing its environmental impact. Nevertheless, there’s scope to push environmental improvements much faster as motorists are holding onto their cars for longer, some one and half years longer on average, than only five years ago.
“Drivers need more incentives and greater confidence in infrastructure investment if we’re to switch the high volumes of older high-emission cars with zero-emission alternatives. Success will keep the country on the move while driving up economic growth from every business depending on road transport.”
This Article First Appeared At www.am-online.com
