Battery electric cars accounted for 32.7% of new car registrations, matching the 2026 ZEV mandate target a month early, according to data from New AutoMotive.
More than 46,000 new electric vehicles (EV) were registered in the final month of the year, helping to close out 2025 as a record year for EV uptake, with almost half a million (477,000) registered overall.
Separate figures by the SMMT revealed that vehicle with a plug only narrowly missed being the majority of the market, with Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) volumes rising by 7.2% to achieve a 13.9% market share, while plug-in hybrids increased 34.7% to take 11.1% of registrations.
The news also illustrates that the ZEV Mandate is working and delivering at scale. Uptake of BEVs has been ahead of target since the autumn – with a surplus of around 60,000 ZEV credits.
As a result, not a single vehicle manufacturer will face fines for non-compliance with the mandate in 2025. The almost half a million new EVs on the road is more than the whole of 2021 and 2022 combined.
Several major groups, including Volkswagen, BMW, Renault, and BYD, ended the year ahead of their obligations, “demonstrating that compliance is both achievable and commercially viable”, New AutoMotive said.
Electric vans edged closer to compliance in December, reaching an 11.19% market share but falling just short of the estimated real-world ZEV target for the year at 11.21%. Vanmakers will avoid fines as a result of flexibilities introduced by the Government earlier in 2025.
Electric HGVs recorded another strong month, with registrations nearly quadrupling year-on-year.
Ben Nelmes, CEO at New AutoMotive, said:
“Over 40,000 motorists received the gift of cheaper and better driving over the holidays as one in three motorists opted for an electric car.
“This is fantastic news for family budgets as well as the UK’s energy security. As 2026 starts with countries fighting over oil resources, the UK is increasingly turning to domestic clean electricity.
“This success is the result of pragmatic policy that rewards carmakers for the billions they are investing in delivering EVs that British motorists increasingly want.”
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said:
“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 InstaVolt, said:
“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.”
Tanya Sinclair, CEO of Electric Vehicles UK, said:
“One in three new car buyers chose electric last month, a meaningful milestone. But it’s also important to focus on the two-thirds who didn’t. Some are weighing up future road-pricing proposals, others are unsure whether current incentives apply to the models they want.
“That points to a need for clearer, more consistent policy signals. What is already clear, however, is that buyers now have genuine choice: electric cars offer strong value for money, best-in-class performance, and an increasingly compelling proposition for mainstream drivers.”
John Lewis, CEO of char.gy, said:
“Over 30% of new cars being electric in December shows how mainstream electric vehicles have become. But to go the extra mile, we need to improve charging access in everyday communities. That’s why local authority-led rollout, supported by LEVI funding, is so critical.
“We’re already seeing the impact on the ground, with thousands of new on-street chargers being delivered street-by-street in towns and cities across the UK.”
Vicky Edmonds, CEO of EVA England, said:
“It’s been another strong year for EVs as nearly 1 in 4 went full electric, and over a third in December alone. This shows that confidence is growing and support measures are working.
“It is crucial now that we build on this progress and ensure all drivers are properly supported to make the switch. This can be done by expanding reliable, affordable and accessible charging, supporting the used EV market, and ensuring incentives reach everyday drivers.”
Image from Shutterstock
