- 2025 marked the highest market share for electric cars on record for the UK, with fully-electric models accounting for 23.4% of all new cars registered across the year.
- These latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that a total of 473,348 new BEVs were registered across the year.
- The overall figure was still behind the UK’s 2025 ZEV target of 28%, but the statistics still show continuous growth for EV market share. Can that remain the same for 2026?
Market share of EVs in the UK continues to rise
Of the 2 million-plus new cars registered in 2025, over 473,000 registrations were for BEVs – indicating that around 1 in 4 buyers are choosing to go electric – though it’s important to note that SMMT’s new car registration figures take into account both private and fleet/business registrations.
Petrol still took home the largest market share of the year, at 46.4%, but BEVs with their 23.4% market share still impressively beat a number of other powertrain types – including diesel at 5.1%, PHEV at 11.1%, and HEV at 13.9%.
2025 saw a number of key changes for the UK’s EV market – some seen as positive, and some negative. Back in April 2025, the government changed its Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax) rules, with EVs losing their £0 per year exemption. However, that was backed up later in the year with the introduction of the Electric Car Grant, offering up to £3,750 off the price of new EVs (providing they meet certain manufacturing and environmental criteria). With some of the most popular models now on that eligibility list, the ECG has partially contributed to 2025’s record EV market share. Other factors, such as the ever-growing public charging network, are also inspiring confidence that allows more drivers to make the switch to electric.
The SMMT’s January 2026 registration figures, which will be revealed in early February, will help confirm whether this upwards market share trend continues, as will figures in the later months to come. Right now, the UK is still working towards a 2035 date in which all forms of new combustion cars (including PHEVs) will be banned, despite the neighbouring European Union recently changing tack to reduce its goal of 100% zero-emission cars by 2035 to 90% zero-emission cars by 2035.
Mike Hawes, Chief Executive at SMMT, commented:
“The new car market finally reaching two million registrations for the first time this decade is a reasonably solid result amid tough economic and geopolitical headwinds. Rising EV uptake is an undoubted positive, but the pace is still too slow and the cost to industry too high. Government has stepped in with the Electric Car Grant, but a new EV tax, additional charges for EV drivers in London and costly public charging send mixed signals. Given developments abroad, government should bring forward its review and act urgently to deliver a vibrant market, a sustainable industry and an investment proposition that keeps the UK at the forefront of global competition.”
Delvin Lane, CEO of CPO Instavolt, added:
“Nearly half a million electric cars joined UK roads in 2025, with December showing what’s possible when confidence, choice and infrastructure align. The priority now is keeping the charging network ahead of demand. That’s why InstaVolt is investing at scale in reliable, high-power charging nationwide, with more than 3,000 chargers live or in construction, and over 500 delivered in the past year alone.”
