The UK’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has published its October 2026 new car registration figures, with further indication that electric car demand continues to grow across the country. A total of 48,858 BEVs were registered across the month, marking a 32.7% year-on-year rise compared to October 2025.
New electric car registrations on the rise in the UK
The numbers also follow an impressive September figure, when just under 100,000 new fully-electric cars were registered in the UK, a month that always stands out with high figures due to the new number plate change.
Fully-electric models made up 32% of all new cars registered in October, cementing their position as the UK’s second most popular powertrain, behind only pure petrol models at 37.2%. The 48,858 BEVs were joined by a further 22,898 plug-in hybrids, which took a 15% share of the market, meaning that almost half of all new cars registered in the UK last month had a charging plug of some kind.
Breaking down the fully-electric registrations, we can see that SUVs and crossovers are still the EV body shapes of choice. The Skoda Enyaq was the most popular EV of the month, with 1,568 new registrations, followed by the Mini Countryman Electric with 1,494 registrations, and in third place, China’s Jaecoo 5, with 1,465 registrations. A podium finish for Jaecoo shows just how quickly some Chinese manufacturers have established themselves in the UK market.
The industry reacts
Melanie Lane, CEO at Pod, said:
“Even without a major new push for EVs in the Budget, consumers and businesses are still choosing to go electric. A 53% year-on-year increase in BEV registrations is a strong sign that underlying demand is there and the market is building momentum. For me, it shows that what really drives the transition is getting the fundamentals right: cost, choice and making electric an easy decision for drivers. The last thing the market needs now is another shifting of the regulatory goalposts by adjusting the ZEV mandate.”
Dr Vicky Edmonds, CEO of EVA England, reacted:
“EV sales continue to go up, with almost a third of new car sales this month being electric. Demand for EVs is there. And our work shows that it could be so much higher if we can make the transition work for everyone. That means addressing the high cost of public charging and poor standards across the public charging network.”
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, commented:
“Almost one in three new cars registered in October was electric – great progress in the transition, but one that comes at enormous cost. The industry and government are spending billions to help drivers switch, but that support cannot be sustained indefinitely with the gap to mandated targets set to more than double by 2028, just as a new EV-only tax is introduced. Higher targets may force supply, but they do not create demand. The ZEV Mandate review must deliver substantive reform effective immediately to ensure we have a healthy market and an attractive pitch to investors.”
