Electric vehicles are still continuing with its upward trajectory among the UK car buying public according to latest figures.
New registration figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). showed a resurgence in private buyers with registrations up 17.2% including a 25.6% uplift in BEV products year to date.
The gradual shift in consumer demand for new technologies continues to reshape the market. Registrations of petrol and diesel cars fell by -7.1% and -2.2% respectively, as electrified vehicles gained ground. Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) uptake rose 1.8% and plug-in hybrid deliveries grew 23.9% to take an enlarged 13.8% market share. Battery electric vehicle (BEV) uptake, meanwhile, increased 34.2% to take 27.3% of the market, the highest recorded so far in 2026.
The uplift reflects both expanding model choice and sustained competition, particularly in the electric vehicle market where substantial manufacturer discounting continues to play a significant role in driving uptake. Government support, including the Electric Car Grant, has also helped stimulate demand, alongside rising consumer interest amid wider economic and geopolitical uncertainty.
Despite recent momentum, however, the transition to zero-emission mobility remains well behind the mandated trajectory. Year-to-date, BEVs account for just 23.9% of the market, well short of the 33% required in 2026.
In the seventh Carbon Budget, published this week, Government envisages EVs comprising 95% of the new UK car and van market by 2030 – an ambition well beyond the targets set by the mandate of 80% for cars and 70% for vans.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “The EV transition is progressing, but consumer uptake still lags behind even today’s targets, let alone the ambition set out in the latest Carbon Budget. While industry shares the long-term ambition, the pathway to Net Zero must be credible. It cannot come at the cost of lost competitiveness and deindustrialisation. A review of the transition is now urgent to ensure ambition matches market realities and we have a sustainable path to road transport decarbonisation.”
Melanie Lane, CEO at charging provider Pod said: “Record-breaking SMMT figures suggest that the economics of electrification are having a significant impact on driver decision-making, with BEVs consistently making up over a quarter of new registrations. We’re seeing surging interest linked to macro shocks earlier in the year now materialise into real consumer demand.
EVs being cheaper on average to buy combined with smart charging and off-peak tariffs means drivers making the switch are benefitting from greater control and predictability over costs. As households continue to navigate the global uncertainty that is putting pressure on energy pricing, many now see that EVs are part of the solution.
To maintain this pace, though, policy stability matters. Clear, consistent signals from government give buyers the confidence to commit and give industry the certainty to invest. Without that, we risk stalling a transition that’s hitting its stride.”
