Battery-electric vehicles (BEV) have continues to grow in November as the sector hit 26.4% of the new market, according to separate figures from New Automotive and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The figures are the second-best month of 2025 for electric vehicles. Petrol and diesel continued to see sharp declines with falls of 5.9% and 24% respectively year-on-year.
Support from the Electric Car Grant, with more models announced recently being eligible for government support, has helped boost the figures.
The electric van market also posted a strong month, with registrations up 24.5% compared to last November. This pushed electric vans to a 12.5% market share, making it the best November on record and confirming that vans have now joined cars in tracking towards ZEV mandate compliance after April’s adjustments lowered the implied target to 9.35%.
Ben Nelmes, CEO at New AutoMotive, said:
“With 38,000 drivers switching in November, one in four new cars is now electric. This is great news for everyone who will benefit from cleaner air.
“The data proves the ZEV mandate is working: manufacturer credits effectively doubled last month alone. Manufacturers are comfortably on course to comply with the targets in 2025.
“As petrol and diesel sales slide, the electric market has matured to nearly 23% of all 2025 sales. The transition is not just happening – it’s accelerating.”
Delvin Lane, CEO of InstaVolt, said:
“These latest figures from New AutoMotive show that when policy signals are clear and consistent, consumers continue to choose electric.
“With both the car and van markets on track to meet their 2025 ZEV Mandate targets, now is the moment for the government to lock in that confidence. If the UK wants this progress to continue, it must maintain clear direction and long-term commitment to the transition.”
Tanya Sinclair, CEO of Electric Vehicles UK, said:
“It’s positive to see another healthy month for EV sales, especially for vans. Unfortunately, it’s possible that the government will torpedo this steady progress with their mixed bag of measures in the budget.
“It’s great to see more drivers choosing electric every month, and we will be watching how the Chancellor’s measures will affect these trends.”
Toby Poston, BVRLA Chief Executive, said:
“Fleets are leading this transition. Today’s data shows that when the right support and confidence is in place, they can make the switch. The surge in BEV van uptake offers green shoots of optimism but the sector remains beset by barrier upon barrier. The helpful regulatory changes we’ve seen recently around vans over 4.25t should accelerate this momentum but there is a long way to go.
“Positive progress remains fragile though, for vans and cars alike. Last week’s confirmation of a pay-per-mile regime for electric cars is the wrong policy at the wrong time. It risks completely undermining the confidence that has been built, particularly for operators making long-term investment decisions.”
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said:
“Even in a fragile market, zero emission vehicle uptake continues to rise, which is exactly what we need. But the weakest growth for almost two years – ahead of government announcing a new tax on EVs – should be seen as a wake-up call that sustained increase in demand for EVs cannot be taken for granted.
“We should be taking every opportunity to encourage drivers to make the switch, not punishing them for doing so, else the ambitions of government and industry will be thwarted.”
Image from Shutterstock
