British new car registrations fell about 14% in March from a year earlier and were a drag on first-quarter numbers, despite the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, preliminary industry data released on Tuesday showed.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said March, however, was the best ever month for sales of battery electric vehicles, with registrations last month surpassing those for the whole of 2019.

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The SMMT will provide the final figures for March at 0800 GMT.