Zero emission buses have out-performed the overall market, taking nearly two in five (37.3%) new buses registered, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The share constitutes a record market share and is “clear evidence of the sector’s rapid transition to electric and hydrogen”, the SMMT said.
UK registrations of new buses, coaches and minibuses fell overall by 37.7% to 1,578 units in Q1 2026 as demand eased following last year’s 17-year high. This included a strong first quarter of 2025 when overall registrations surged by 49.8% due to Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) grants.
Despite the decline, recent announcements “auger well for future growth”, the SMMT said, with the UK Government’s recent vision for buses, and the local authority zero emission bus order pipeline anticipates a further 23,381 deliveries by the end of 2035.
Stimulating investment into fleets will “help accelerate the decarbonisation of road transport while also delivering significant improvements in air quality and reducing noise pollution across the UK”, the SMMT added.
It added that further action was needed to speed up grid connections at bus depots, which often require significant, costly upgrades to provide the power needed to keep fleets fully charged.
The news comes as the SMMT is set to attend Transport + Energy‘s Fleet Electrification Forum on 8 July at Warwick Conferences. You can find out more about the event here.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said:
“After the bus market’s boost over the past two years, a decline was always inevitable as the market stabilises. With zero emission buses taking such a high market share, however, all signs point to a market that is eagerly transitioning.
“Manufacturers have made massive investments in zero-emission buses and public funding schemes have helped drive adoption.
“With more local commitments to ZEV bus procurement, the market can grow, and the UK can get ever closer to a nationwide zero emission bus network.”
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