- The United Kingdom has just recorded its best month on record for EV sales, with over 68,000 fully-electric cars sold in the month of March, according to figures gathered by New AutoMotive.
- By comparison, 20,659 fully-electric cars were sold in the month of February.
- The figures show an increasing level of demand for electric cars, as the early mainstream begin the transition to EVs.
A record March for EV sales in the UK
The 68,255 EVs sold is 20% higher than the previous monthly record, which dated back to September 2024. For this month, fully-electric cars accounted for 19.41% of the market, edging ever closer to the 29.7% market share of pure petrol cars.
Following these results, the top three brands within the BEV segment in the year-to-date are Tesla, BMW, and Volkswagen, with BEV market share figures of 10.69%, 8.67%, and 7.39% respectively. This shows that Tesla is still the largest EV brand in the country by market share, but with Tesla’s recent popularity concerns, it remains to be seen how much longer this will remain the case – as Tesla’s year-to-date market share has declined 3.54% compared to last year, whilst Volkswagen’s market share rose 4.23% in the same period.
While the March figures align with the steady upwards trajectory of EV sales that the UK has been seeing, the introduction of new EV road tax laws (which took effect this month) likely played a part in this being the best month on record for EV sales. By pre-registering or ensuring EVs were sold before the April 1st deadline, these vehicles will have been exempt from road tax until their next renewal in twelve months, granting cost savings for the buyer. However, New AutoMotive’s data showed no sign that this increase was any more significant for £40,000-plus EVs, which are now subject to the expensive car supplement.
How has the industry reacted to this milestone?
Susan Wells, Director of EV & Solar at Hive, commented:
“Electric vehicles continue to be increasingly popular with drivers as figures show another boost in new EV car registrations last month, with people looking to switch towards a more cost-effective and sustainable method of transport.
Although an uplift in registration figures is encouraging, the government must continue to provide incentives, not roadblocks, to further increase adoption levels. Changes to Vehicle Excise Duty, which will see EV owners pay car tax for the first time, could act as a barrier for drivers looking to make the switch.
With drivers already cautious about EV-related expenses, we need bold financial incentives, not penalties, to accelerate our transition away from fossil fuel vehicles.”
Vicky Edmonds, CEO of EVA England, added:
“We’re now seeing a consistently healthy EV market that is bucking the trend of falling petrol and diesel sales this year. With EVs comprising just under one in five new sales last month, the race is on to support UK drivers through the transition. This means more consistent support to ensure EVs are truly affordable and developing a charging network that works for all.”
The record is yet another positive achievement for the UK’s EV transition. Last year, the UK was the largest EV market in Europe, by volume sold. With these figures, 2025 is primed to be an equally successful year for electric vehicle sales in the country.
Ben Nelmes, CEO of New AutoMotive, commented:
“March is a key month for car sales, and the data shows that demand is surging for electric cars with the biggest month ever for sales of clean cars.
The UK’s ZEV mandate is successfully driving up EV sales and enabling more drivers to go electric and benefit from cost savings and a better driving experience.
As Ministers consider the future of the UK’s ZEV mandate the message from the data is clear: don’t mess with success.”
