Supply shortages have been blamed for new car registrations falling to the lowest level since 1992.
Around 1.61 million new cars were registered in 2022, according to preliminary data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
That is down 2 per cent compared with the 1.65 million registered during the previous 12 months and a quarter below pre-coronavirus levels.
The SMMT said the decline was due to manufacturers being unable to meet the demand for new cars due to global supply chain issues such as semiconductor shortages, driven by coronavirus lockdowns in China.
The UK has reclaimed its position as Europe’s second-largest new car market behind Germany after being overtaken by France in recent years.
Battery electric new cars took a market share of around 17 per cent in 2022, surpassing diesel for the first time to become the second most popular powertrain after petrol.
Some 23 per cent of all new cars registered were plug-in vehicles, which includes pure electrics and plug-in hybrids.
Although that was a record high, it represents a smaller year on year rise compared with the previous 12 months.
The market share for plug-in vehicles rose from 10.7 per cent in 2020 to 18.6 per cent in 2021.
December saw battery electrics claim their largest-ever monthly market share of 33 per cent, driven by a large number of Tesla cars being delivered.
The overall new car market recorded its fifth consecutive month of year on year growth in December, and the SMMT anticipates that new car registrations will increase by around 15 per cent this year.
Mike Hawes, the SMMT chief executive, described 2022 as “a very difficult year” but insisted there are signs that supply problems are “beginning to ease”.
He said: “Manufacturers have really struggled to be able to make the vehicles in sufficient quantities, primarily due to semiconductor shortages but there are other parts shortages behind that as well.
“Lockdowns in China have not helped, high logistics costs, more pressure on raw materials.
“The complexities of global manufacturing have really been brought to bear heavily on the industry this past year.”
He went on: “The automotive market remains adrift of its pre-pandemic performance but could well buck wider economic trends by delivering significant growth in 2023.
“To secure that growth – which is increasingly zero emission growth – government must help all drivers go electric and compel others to invest more rapidly in nationwide charging infrastructure.”
Mr Hawes called for a “significant ratcheting up of investment” in electric car charging.
Sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans in the UK will be banned from 2030.
The Nissan Qashqai topped the ranking of overall new car registrations in 2022 followed by the Vauxhall Corsa, Tesla Model Y, Ford Puma and Mini.
