EV sales EXCEED government targets for the first time - but it comes amidst claims manufacturers are rationing petrol car availability to avoid fines

Petrol sales last month fell by 10% - the equivalent of 5,000 fewer deliveries Comes against accusations that car makers are limiting petrol deliveries to boost EV numbers and escape financial penalties Sales of electric cars have exceeded binding Government targets for the first time this year with 23 per cent of all new models entering the road in August powered solely by batteries, official figures have confirmed. But the achievement has been tainted by accusations that manufacturers are limiting availability of petrol cars to artificially inflate EV sales shares The trade body said on Thursday that the UK new car market 'remained stable in August' with registrations falling 1.3 per cent year-on-year. Sales of battery cars grew 10.8% last month and accounted for 22.6% of all registrations Electric vehicle registrations grew 10.8% last month, while sales of petrol cars declined 7.3% amidst claims that manufacturers have actively limited the availability of new combustion engine models to inflate their share of new EVs to meet government targets But the headline statistic for the monthly car sales update was the rise in EV demand. Robert Forrester, boss at one of Britain's biggest new car dealer networks Vertu Motors, says car makers are targeting the UK with EVs that many drivers do not want while at the same time withholding the availability of new petrol models Ford Puma extends lead at the top of the sales charts Ford Puma is UK's best seller in August Last year's best-selling new car is on course to retain its title in 2024, with the Ford Puma extending its lead in the popularity league table in August.