In September 2026, the UK recorded 99,199 battery-electric vehicle registrations, marking a 36.3% increase year-over-year. These vehicles captured a 28.3% market share. Total new car registrations reached 350,518, a 12.1% rise compared to the previous year.
Plug-in hybrids also saw record growth, climbing 55.7% to 59,563 units, representing a 17% market share. Combined, plug-in vehicles accounted for 45.3% of the market. Conversely, the market share for petrol cars declined to 37.6% from 45.2% a year prior.
Tesla led the EV segment with the Model 3, which recorded 9,929 registrations, followed by the Model Y with 5,946 units. BYD secured the next positions with the Sealion 7 and Seal models, while the Kia EV3 and Leapmotor B10 also entered the top 10.
Year-to-date, the UK has registered 454,945 EVs, reflecting a 30.2% increase and a 26.2% share of the 1,739,253 total new cars. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders noted that 178 electric models are currently available for sale in the UK.
Despite the record, industry representatives argue that the government's 2026 ZEV mandate target of 33% is difficult to achieve. Automakers can utilize credits for CO2 reduction and other flexibilities to meet requirements without relying solely on EV sales.
