UK new-car sales rose 28 percent in June but the market's recovery is being slowed by the global shortage of microchips, industry association SMMT said.
Registrations increased to 186,128 from 145,377 in the same month last year, the SMMT said in a statement on Monday.
The monthly performance was artificially lifted through comparison with June 2020, when the UK began to emerge from the first pandemic lockdown and showrooms in England opened up at the beginning of the month, the SMMT said.
The level remained down 16 percent on the 10-year average for June, the group said.
Sales of battery electric cars rose 123 percent to 19,842 in June for a 10.7 percent market share. Registrations of plug-in vehicles increased 146 percent to 12,139 for a 6.5 percent share of the market.
Private registrations were positive in June, up 22 percent but subdued compared to large fleets, which rose 34 percent, the SMMT said.