Don't be misled by headlines.

Amid the noise and occasional doom-mongering in the media, it’s easy to miss the positive stories that reflect real progress.

Take the recent reporting on the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) car sales data for September. A headline from a major news outlet implied a surprising resurgence in diesel car sales, sparking debate and confusion.

However, digging into the details reveals a much brighter picture, especially for the UK's electric vehicle (#EV) market.

The truth? September was actually a record-breaking month for EVs, with sales hitting an impressive 20.5% market share.

Not only was this the best month in UK history, it also meant the car industry was already surpassing 2024’s Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) mandate targets.

Yet, some reports chose to focus on a supposed diesel comeback, based on a misreading of the data.

This isn’t just a case of editorial oversight.

It reflects a broader issue with how data is often spun to emphasise controversy or decline, rather than progress.

While diesel and petrol vehicles have seen combined market share dip below 40% for the second month straight, EV sales have been steadily rising.

In fact, October marked the third consecutive month that EVs held a 20% market share.

European carmakers led the charge with Volkswagen UK, Mercedes-Benz in the UK, BMW UK, Peugeot UK, Audi UK and Škoda UK reporting EVs as 18% to 30% of their overall sales.

Renault Group and Ford uk even surpassed Tesla in EV sales during the month, while Honda hit  an impressive 32% of its total sales coming from electric models.

The takeaway? Headlines alone don’t tell the full story.

While negative angles may grab attention, the reality is that the UK’s car industry is making remarkable strides towards a cleaner future.

This is a time for celebration and continued support for EV adoption, not for distractions rooted in outdated narratives. Let’s champion the positive changes driving us all forward. There's plenty to talk about, it's just a case of getting those messages out there to customers!

If you work within automotive, be it a retailer or at brand level, we’d love to understand your view and talk to you about the future of auto retailing. Why not schedule a FREE 30-minute assessment today here? It will be well worth your time.

Or alternatively read more about Local Marketing on our blog page "Local Thinking': https://www.weareacuity.com/local-thinking-our-blog

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