Battery-electric vehicles (BEV) share of the new car market has hit 26.8% for August, according to new figures.
The news comes as the total of cars hitting the UK roads with a plug is 38.8% of all new vehicles, when PHEVs are also taken into account.
It means that the industry as a whole hit the implied targets for the ZEV mandate – when extra credits from manufacturer outperformance on CO2 targets are taken into account.
New Automotive added that as battery electric accounted for 21.9% of registrations in the year to date, compared with an implied target of 21.8%, it meant that there should be excess credits – and a low cost of compliance – if levels are maintained.
The electric van market also demonstrated growth, with registrations nearly doubling compared to August last year. The segment achieved an 11.9% market share.
Separate figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders found that BEV registrations were up 14.9% to 26.5%.
It also reported that BEV growth was only outpaced by plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) uptake, which rose by 69.4% to deliver an 11.8% market share. Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) uptake, meanwhile, fell by -13.9% to account for 11.4% of the market.
Corrin Reilly, Data Analyst at New AutoMotive, said:
“August’s figures saw electric cars win the race for second place, beating out petrol cars for the first time in 2025 with a 26.8% market share, and falling just shy of taking first place from HEVs at 29.3%. More than 1 in 3 of all new cars registered had a plug, with PHEV car registrations rising by more than 80%.”
“Electric van registrations were also on the rise seeing their market share more than double to 11.9%. The hybrid van market mirrored the PHEV car market with up-take skyrocketing, showing growth of more than 250%.”
“The new registration figures for August go to show the ZEV Mandate is working as intended and driving up-take of electric vehicles across the sector.”
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said:
“August was the best month yet this year for EV market share and, while it is often volatile due to low overall volumes, the overall trend is positive. September will be critical, with the new number plate factor typically driving around one in seven new car registrations for the year.
There is now a vast choice of electric models across all segments and many consumers will also, for the first time in three years, benefit from a grant to help them switch to electric.”
Tanya Sinclair, CEO, Electric Vehicles UK [EVUK]:
“The numbers speak for themselves: drivers are choosing electric vehicles, and are encouraged by a package of government policy and incentives to support their switch to EV.
“With more than one in three new cars now having a plug, and one in four pure electric, it’s clear that drivers will make the switch when given what they need – outstanding vehicles with best-in-class tech, charging options at every speed, and a marketplace of competitive energy and financing offers.”
Ginny Buckley, the chief executive of Electrifying.com, said:
“These figures show that the flexibilities in the ZEV mandate are helping manufacturers stay on track to meet EV sales targets. But some brands are still off pace. Ford, for example, is weighed down by a heavy petrol and diesel mix across its product range, despite strong August EV sales driven by demand for the new Puma Gen-E.
“The good news? Buyers are embracing the wide choice of increasingly affordable EVs now on sale in the UK. But September’s registrations – with some models qualifying for the new Electric Car Grant – will be the real test of consumer confidence.”
Fiona Howarth, Founder / Director Octopus Electric Vehicles, said:
“There were some concerns about consumer confusion towards the new Electric Cars Grant, and the potential that could slow registrations, but the data paints a different picture indeed. Another month of positive numbers for the uptake of electric vehicles; one in four cars are full electric and one in three have a plug. Instead of confusion, drivers are confident to make the switch to electric.”
