LONDON — UK new-car registrations are prone to develop much less strongly in 2022 than beforehand thought as a result of cost-of-living squeeze and ongoing provide issues, the Society of Motor Producers and Merchants (SMMT) mentioned in an announcement.

Gross sales have been now forecast to rise by greater than 15 % in 2022 in contrast with final yr, hitting 1.9 million items, though that might nonetheless depart them virtually 18 % beneath their pre-pandemic ranges in 2019, the SMMT mentioned on Friday.

In October, the SMMT had predicted gross sales of 1.96 million, and it blamed the decrease forecasts on the continuing semiconductor scarcity, rising prices of dwelling and rising rates of interest.

In 2023, gross sales have been prone to surpass 2 million items for the primary time since 2019, it mentioned.

• Click on right here for UK gross sales by model in January.

The SMMT additionally mentioned registrations rose by 28 % in January in contrast with the identical month final yr when showrooms have been closed as a consequence of tight coronavirus restrictions.

However gross sales final month have been round 23 % decrease than in January 2020, shortly earlier than the pandemic swept Europe.

Non-public registrations final month have been up by 64 % and one in 5 patrons opted to buy an electrical car.

The SMMT mentioned it anticipated virtually one in 4 new vehicles would include a plug by the tip of this yr.