UK EV sales: monthly SMMT figures, best sellers and market share
Electric car sales are still rising in the UK, with October 2026 the strongest month for share this year, but the year to date of 26.6% is well short of the 33% ZEV mandate target.
Quick answers
- The SMMT counted 48,858 new battery electric cars in October 2026, up 32.7% on October 2025 and a 32.0% share, the highest monthly share of 2026.
- From January to October 2026, 503,805 battery electric cars were registered, a 26.6% share against 22.4% a year earlier and the 33% ZEV mandate target.
- Every month of 2026 has been up on the same month of 2025, from just 0.1% in January to 59.1% in April, so UK EV sales are not declining.
- By EV Compared's sums on the SMMT's 2.219 million market outlook, about 228,500 more electric cars, roughly 70% of November and December registrations, would be needed to reach 33% for the year.
- Used electric car sales rose 23.2% to 97,625 in the third quarter of 2026, a 4.8% share of the used market, after a record 5.5% share in the second quarter.
- In an AA survey of more than 12,000 members reported in March 2026, 55% said the proposed 3p a mile Electric Vehicle Excise Duty would stop them considering an electric car.
UK EV sales are still growing: 48,858 new battery electric cars were registered in October 2026, up 32.7% on a year earlier and a 32.0% share of the market, the highest monthly share of the year, according to the SMMT. From January to October, 503,805 electric cars took 26.6% of new car sales, short of the 33% the ZEV mandate sets for 2026.
Last updated: 10 November 2026. We update this page on the day the SMMT publishes new car registrations, in the first week of each month and usually around the 5th. The next update is Friday 4 December 2026, when November’s figures come out at 09:00 (SMMT key press dates).
| Measure | Latest figure | Period |
|---|---|---|
| New battery electric cars | 48,858, up 32.7% | October 2026 |
| Battery electric share | 32.0% (25.4% a year earlier) | October 2026 |
| Battery electric cars, year to date | 503,805, up 30.4% | January to October 2026 |
| Share, year to date | 26.6% (22.4% in 2025) | January to October 2026 |
| ZEV mandate target | 33% | 2026 |
| SMMT forecast share | 27.2% | Full year 2026 |
| Best-selling electric car | Skoda Enyaq, 1,568 | October 2026 |
| Used battery electric cars | 97,625, up 23.2%, 4.8% share | July to September 2026 |
What changed this month?
October was the strongest month of 2026 for electric share, with almost one new car in three fully electric. The whole market grew 5.4% to 152,730, so electric cars grew about six times faster than the market.
| Fuel type | October 2026 | Change on October 2025 | Share (a year earlier) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery electric | 48,858 | up 32.7% | 32.0% (25.4%) |
| Plug-in hybrid | 22,898 | up 30.1% | 15.0% (12.1%) |
| Hybrid | 18,287 | down 5.0% | 12.0% (13.3%) |
| Petrol | 56,876 | down 11.6% | 37.2% (44.4%) |
| Diesel | 5,811 | down 15.9% | 3.8% (4.8%) |
| Total market | 152,730 | up 5.4% |
Source: SMMT, 5 November 2026.
The gap between petrol and electric shrank to 5.2 percentage points, from 19.0 points in October 2025. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes welcomed the growth but warned that “higher targets may force supply, but they do not create demand”. Our October sales report covers the month in more detail.
The best sellers were spread thinly. The Skoda Enyaq led with 1,568 registrations, ahead of the Mini Countryman on 1,494 and the Jaecoo 5 on 1,465, according to Electrek. The full ranking, with prices and grant eligibility, is in our October best-selling electric cars list.
Tesla registered only 282 cars in October, down 45% from 511, with no model in the electric top ten. That is its usual pattern for the first month of a quarter: its year to date is up 31% at 46,526, about 9.2% of all battery electric cars registered in 2026 on our sums. Our Tesla UK sales report breaks this down month by month.
The full table (kept live)
Battery electric registrations have risen on a year earlier in every month of 2026. Share swings with the size of the month: March and September are plate-change months, when many petrol and hybrid cars are registered too.
| Month (2026) | Total new cars | Battery electric | Change on 2025 | Monthly share | Share year to date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | 152,730 | 48,858 | up 32.7% | 32.0% | 26.6% |
| September | 350,536 | 99,201 | up 36.3% | 28.3% | 26.2% |
| August | 94,236 | 28,063 | up 27.7% | 29.8% | 25.6% |
| July | 156,571 | 43,106 | up 44.5% | 27.5% | 25.3% |
| June | 213,166 | 63,950 | up 35.0% | 30.0% | 25.0% |
| May | 160,662 | 43,931 | up 34.2% | 27.3% | 23.9% |
| April | 149,247 | 39,084 | up 59.1% | 26.2% | 23.1% |
| March | 380,627 | 86,120 | up 24.2% | 22.6% | 22.4% |
| February | 90,100 | 21,840 | up 2.8% | 24.2% | 22.0% |
| January | 144,127 | 29,654 | up 0.1% | 20.6% | 20.6% |
Sources: SMMT releases; January, February, March and August SMMT figures as reported by Electrive, EV Fleet World and EY.
September’s 99,201 is the biggest month on record for UK electric car registrations; October’s 32.0% is the highest share.
How many more electric cars does 2026 need?
On our calculation, about 228,500 more electric cars, roughly 70% of everything registered in November and December, would be needed to reach 33% for the year. Method: the SMMT’s October 2026 outlook expects 2.219 million cars in 2026; less the 1,892,000 already registered, that leaves about 327,000, and 33% of the full year (about 732,300) less the 503,805 electric cars so far gives the gap.
The SMMT’s own 27.2% forecast implies about 99,800 electric cars in the last two months, about 30.5% of them, close to October’s pace. The target applies to each carmaker, and brands can borrow or buy credits, so a market share below 33% does not by itself mean fines.
Are EV sales declining in the UK?
No. Volumes are up 30.4% for the year to October, and no month has fallen below the same month of 2025. What fell early in the year was share: January’s 20.6% was the lowest monthly share since April 2025, according to Electrive, and February’s 24.2% was below the 25.3% of a year earlier.
The SMMT’s forecast has moved with the data: 28.5% in January, cut to 26.8% in May after what it called an “underperforming first quarter”, and 27.2% in its October outlook. It says carmakers are relying heavily on discounts to hit their targets.
Are UK drivers delaying the switch to electric?
Surveys say many are holding back, even as sales climb. In an AA survey of more than 12,000 members, 55% said they would not consider an electric car given the proposed pay-per-mile Electric Vehicle Excise Duty, Auto Express reported in March 2026. Only 22% felt confident they would know how to charge one, and 3% would feel confident buying a used electric car.
The tax is now set. The government’s Budget 2026 tax overview confirms Electric Vehicle Excise Duty from 1 April 2028 at 3p a mile for battery electric cars and 1.5p a mile for plug-in hybrids. Our guide to road tax on an electric car explains what you pay now and from 2028.
Price is the other brake. The AA’s September 2026 EV Readiness Index found new electric cars cost on average 25% more than comparable petrol cars, while used ones cost just 1% more, and home charging was 66% cheaper per mile than petrol.
How many used electric cars are sold?
Used electric sales are growing faster than the used market but are still about one sale in 20. In July to September 2026, 97,625 used battery electric cars changed hands, up 23.2% and a 4.8% share of the used market, from SMMT figures reported by Transport and Energy. Across January to September, 295,524 were sold, up 39.6%.
What it means for buyers
For a new car buyer, the gap to 33% is the useful number. Brands that are behind have every reason to register electric cars before 31 December, so a car in stock now gives you room to negotiate. Ask for any discount and any Electric Car Grant to be shown separately, and read how long the grant funding will last before deciding to hold off.
If you are tempted to wait for cheaper models, the SMMT counted 178 electric models on sale in September, and choice is still widening. Our guide on whether to buy now or wait sets out the trade-offs.
Plug-in hybrids are growing almost as fast, up 30.1% in October. If you are torn between the two, our report on record plug-in hybrid sales looks at why buyers choose them.
Method and sources
New car figures are the SMMT’s monthly registrations of battery electric cars, which exclude plug-in hybrids and hybrids. Where the SMMT revises a figure we use the later one: September was first reported as 99,199 and its release now gives 99,201. March’s 22.4%, often quoted as the monthly share, is the year-to-date share; the month itself was 22.6%. Used figures come from the SMMT’s quarterly used car releases. Vans are tracked in our electric van sales report.
Previous updates
- 9 November 2026: Third-quarter used figures: 97,625 used electric cars, up 23.2%, a 4.8% share.
- 5 November 2026: October: 48,858, up 32.7%, a 32.0% share, the highest of the year. Skoda Enyaq the best seller with 1,568.
- 2 October 2026 (final figures 5 October): September: a record 99,201, up 36.3%, a 28.3% share. Tesla Model 3 the best-selling electric car with 9,929. Our September report has the detail.
- 4 September 2026: August: 28,063, up 27.7%, a 29.8% share.
- 11 August 2026: Second-quarter used figures: a record 110,761 used electric cars, up 67.0%, a 5.5% share.
- 5 August 2026: July: 43,106, up 44.5%, a 27.5% share.
- 6 July 2026: June: 63,950, up 35.0%, a 30.0% share. First half: 284,579, a 25.0% share.
- 4 June 2026: May: 43,931, up 34.2%, a 27.3% share.
- 5 May 2026: April: 39,084, up 59.1%, a 26.2% share. Two million electric cars registered since 2002, at 2,012,758.
- 7 April 2026: March: a then-record 86,120, up 24.2%, a 22.6% share.
- 5 March 2026: February: 21,840, up 2.8%, a 24.2% share, down from 25.3%.
- 5 February 2026: January: 29,654, up 0.1%, a 20.6% share. The SMMT forecast 28.5% for the year.
How we test and where our numbers come from
Range figures are official WLTP combined values taken from manufacturer UK specification pages, with real-world estimates drawn from independent comparative testing. Prices are UK list prices at the time of the latest update. Tax, grant and charging-scheme figures come from GOV.UK and HMRC publications. We re-check every guide when pricing, specification or policy changes. Last checked 10 November 2026. How we work out our own figures.
Frequently asked questions
How many electric cars were sold in the UK last month?
The SMMT counted 48,858 new battery electric cars in October 2026, up 32.7% on October 2025. That was 32.0% of a 152,730-car market, the highest monthly share of 2026. November's figures are due from the SMMT at 09:00 on Friday 4 December 2026.
Are EV sales declining in the UK?
No. Battery electric registrations have been higher than a year earlier in every month of 2026, and the year to October is up 30.4%. Share dipped at the start of the year, to 20.6% in January and 24.2% in February, but has been above 26% every month since April.
What is the best-selling electric car in the UK?
In October 2026 it was the Skoda Enyaq, with 1,568 registrations, ahead of the Mini Countryman on 1,494 and the Jaecoo 5 on 1,465. In September, a much bigger month, the Tesla Model 3 led with 9,929. The leader changes often because Tesla registers most of its cars in the last month of each quarter.
How are Tesla's UK sales doing?
Tesla registered 282 cars in October 2026, down 45% from 511 a year earlier, and had no model in the electric top ten. Its year to date is still up 31% at 46,526, about 9.2% of all battery electric cars registered in 2026 on our sums.
Are UK drivers delaying the switch to electric cars?
Many say they are. In an AA survey reported in March 2026, 55% said the planned pay-per-mile Electric Vehicle Excise Duty would stop them considering an electric car. The AA also found new electric cars cost 25% more than comparable petrol cars in its September 2026 index, while used ones cost only 1% more.
How many used electric cars are sold in the UK?
The SMMT counted 97,625 used battery electric car sales in July to September 2026, up 23.2% and a 4.8% share of the used market. Across January to September, 295,524 used electric cars changed hands, up 39.6% on the same period of 2025.
Sources and further reading
- smmt.co.ukYear-end push lifts EV sales but Mandate gap set to widenOctober 2026 registrations by fuel type, the 1,892,000 and 503,805 year-to-date totals, the 26.6% share and Mike Hawes's comments.
- smmt.co.ukRecord electric car market powers bumper SeptemberSeptember 2026: 350,536 cars, 99,201 battery electric (up 36.3%, 28.3%), 454,947 year to date (26.2%), the Tesla Model 3 on 9,929 and 178 electric models on sale.
- electrive.comUK posts strongest-ever month for BEV registrations in SeptemberSMMT preliminary September 2026 figure of 99,199 battery electric cars, published 2 October 2026, and record monthly volumes.
- smmt.co.ukHuge EV boost in July yet mandate gap persistsJuly 2026: 156,571 cars, 43,106 battery electric (up 44.5%, 27.5%) and a 25.3% year-to-date share.
- smmt.co.ukEV market hits new high but target gap remainsJune 2026: 213,166 cars, 63,950 battery electric (up 35.0%, 30.0%) and 284,579 in the first half (25.0%).
- smmt.co.ukNew car market grows as consumers respond to choice and incentivesMay 2026: 160,662 cars, 43,931 battery electric (up 34.2%, 27.3%) and a 23.9% year-to-date share.
- smmt.co.ukTwo millionth electric car registered as market rebounds strongly from tax changesApril 2026: 149,247 cars, 39,084 battery electric (up 59.1%, 26.2%), 23.1% year to date, 2,012,758 registered since 2002 and the forecast cut to 26.8%.
- electrive.comUK logs record EV registrations in MarchMarch 2026 SMMT figures: 380,627 cars, a record 86,120 battery electric (up 24.2%), 22.6% for the month and 22.4% year to date, and the SMMT on carmakers relying on discounts.
- evfleetworld.co.ukElectric car volumes up 2.8% but market share shrinks for second monthFebruary 2026 SMMT figures: 90,100 cars, 21,840 battery electric (up 2.8%), 24.2% against 25.3% a year earlier and 22.0% year to date.
- electrive.comUK EV registrations edge up in January but lose market shareJanuary 2026 SMMT figures: 144,127 cars, 29,654 battery electric (up 0.1%, 20.6%, the lowest since April 2025) and the SMMT's 28.5% forecast at the time.
- electrive.comEVs enjoy record uptake in the UK but still too slow to meet targets, warns SMMTAugust 2026: 28,063 battery electric cars, up 27.7%, a 29.8% share, 25.6% year to date and Mike Hawes's comment on the month.
- ey.comUK new car registrations rise for ninth consecutive monthAugust 2026 total market of 94,236 cars, up 13.7%, published 4 September 2026.
- smmt.co.ukUK new car and van outlookOctober 2026 outlook: a 2.219 million market and a 27.2% battery electric share in 2026, used in our calculation.
- smmt.co.ukKey press datesNovember 2026 registrations published at 09:00 on Friday 4 December 2026; third-quarter used car figures on 9 November 2026.
- gov.ukUpdates to the Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes (VETS) Order 2023The 33% car target for 2026 applies to each manufacturer's registrations, and manufacturers can borrow allowances from future years and trade them with other manufacturers.
- electrek.coElectric cars are about to overtake petrol in the UK, data showsOctober's electric top three (Skoda Enyaq 1,568, Mini Countryman 1,494, Jaecoo 5 1,465), Tesla's 282 October and 46,526 year-to-date registrations, and the first month of a quarter being slow for Tesla.
- smmt.co.ukUsed car market returns to growth as EV sales accelerateSecond quarter 2026 used market: 2,009,318 transactions and 110,761 battery electric (up 67.0%, a record 5.5%), published 11 August 2026.
- transportandenergy.comDemand for used BEVs rises dramatically, SMMT figures showThird quarter 2026 SMMT used figures: 2,030,619 transactions, 97,625 battery electric (up 23.2%, a 4.8% share) and 295,524 year to date (up 39.6%).
- theaa.comAA UK EV Readiness Index September 2026Index score of 60, new electric cars 25% dearer and used 1% dearer than petrol equivalents, and home charging 66% cheaper per mile than petrol.
- autoexpress.co.ukThreat of pay-per-mile tax putting half of motorists off buying an EVAA survey of more than 12,000 members, reported 24 March 2026: 55% put off by eVED, 22% confident about charging, 3% confident buying a used EV.
- gov.ukBudget 2026: overview of tax legislation and rates (OOTLAR)Electric Vehicle Excise Duty from 1 April 2028 at 3p a mile for battery electric cars and 1.5p a mile for plug-in hybrids.
EV Compared
The EV Compared editorial team tracks the UK electric vehicle market full time: new model launches, list prices, WLTP and real-world range, public charging tariffs and the tax rules that decide what an EV actually costs to run. Every guide is checked against manufacturer specifications and official GOV.UK figures, and updated whenever the numbers move.
Related reading
View all
Electric van sales rise 58% in October, but share is still less than half the 24% target
Battery electric vans took 12.9% of the UK market in October, a record for the month. SMMT now forecasts a 10.4% share for 2026 against a 24% target, with the gap doubling by 2028. Here is how far short vans are, and what new buyers can get.
Tesla UK sales October 2026: 282 cars, down 44.8%, as the quarter restarts
SMMT's October figures, published on 5 November, put Tesla on 282 registrations, its weakest month of 2026. The first month of each quarter is always thin for Tesla, and its year to date is still up 31.2%.
UK electric car sales hit record 99,199 in September
Battery electric cars took 28.3% of the plate-change month, the best ever for UK EV registrations. The year to date is still 26.2%, well short of this year's 33% ZEV mandate target.
Skoda Enyaq is October's best-selling EV as Tesla drops out of the top ten
The Enyaq led a close electric top ten in which only 540 registrations separated first from tenth. Tesla, top in September, registered just 282 cars. Here is what each of the ten costs, which qualify for the Electric Car Grant, and what they cost to charge at home.
Electric Car Grant after record EV sales: will £1.95bn last to 2030?
The grant helped power September's record 99,199 EV registrations. Our sums show whether its £1.95bn reaches March 2030 depends on how many buyers get the full £3,750.
Plug-in hybrid sales jump 56% to a record 17% of UK market
Plug-in hybrids grew faster than fully electric cars in September, up 55.7% to 59,563 registrations. Here is what drove it and whether a PHEV or an EV suits you better now.