In October 2026, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) captured 32% of the UK new car market, while petrol cars accounted for 37.2%. Total new car registrations reached 152,730 units, marking a 5.4% year-over-year increase.
BEV registrations grew by 32.7% to 48,858 units, and plug-in hybrids increased by 30.1% to 22,898 units. Conversely, petrol car registrations fell by 11.6% to 56,876 units. For the first 10 months of 2026, 503,805 BEVs were registered, representing a 26.6% market share.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reports that the 2026 ZEV Mandate requires 33% of sales to be zero-emission, though the organization forecasts a 27.2% share. SMMT projects a 38% target for 2027 and 52% for 2028.
Fast-growing brands in the UK include BYD, which registered 6,065 cars in October, up 73%. Jaecoo registrations reached 6,089 units, Chery 3,707, and Leapmotor 1,773. Tesla registered 282 cars in October, a 45% decline compared to the previous year.
