Electric vehicle (EV) sales in the UK hit a record high last month, according to the latest industry figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers (SMMT).
Sales of pure battery electric vehicles (BEV) grew by almost a third to 72,779 in September, while sales of plug-in hybrid cars grew at an even faster rate. This meant that fully electric or hybrid vehicles collectively made up more than half of all new car registrations in the UK last month.
The SMMT attributes the strong performance to carmakers offering discounts, an increased choice of models for consumers, and the recent introduction of the government’s grant scheme. So far in 2025, zero-emission vehicles account for more than one in five (22.1%) new cars registered.
The data reveals that 71.4% of BEVs registered in September were bought by businesses or for use in fleets, though the number of private buyers of fully electric cars has risen over the past year.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said electrified vehicles were “powering market growth after a sluggish summer.” He noted that industry investment in electric vehicles was “paying off,” despite consumer demand “trailing ambition.”
Mr Hawes added that the government’s electric car grant scheme, which offers a discount of up to £3,750 on eligible vehicles, would help “break down one of the barriers” holding back people making the switch away from petrol and diesel.
Source: BBC News / SMMT