UK EV Sales Hit 24.2%
The UK car market grew by 7.2% in February, with electric vehicles capturing a robust 24.2% of sales. This shift signals the accelerating adoption of EVs in mainstream markets, driven by improving infrastructure and competitive pricing from manufacturers.
The broader UK auto market had its strongest February in 22 years, with 90,100 new cars registered. This surge was significantly bolstered by a 17.6% rise in sales to private buyers, while fleet sales saw a more modest 1.8% increase. While battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) saw a 2.8% increase in sales volume, it was plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) that experienced the most dramatic growth, with registrations surging by 43.5%. When combined, BEVs and PHEVs accounted for 35.8% of all new cars sold in February. Despite the increase in the number of units sold, the market share for pure electric vehicles actually declined for the second month in a row compared to the previous year. February's 24.2% BEV market share is down from 25.3% in February 2025. This performance puts manufacturers behind the pace required by the government's Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate. The regulation requires 33% of new car sales to be zero-emission in 2026, but the year-to-date BEV market share currently stands at 22.0%. The shift away from traditional fuels continues, with petrol vehicle sales dropping by 8% and diesel sales falling by 10.5% compared to the previous year. Diesel vehicles now account for just 4.5% of the total market. The trend towards electrification is also visible in the commercial sector. The electric van market hit a record monthly market share of 13.8% in February, as businesses increasingly transition their fleets.
