Battery-electric vehicle registrations in the United Kingdom increased in February, but their market share declined compared with a year earlier and remains below the level required under the country’s upcoming zero-emission vehicle mandate.
According to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), 21,840 battery-electric cars were registered in February, up 2.8% from the same month last year. BEVs accounted for 24.2% of the 90,100 new cars registered during the month.
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Despite the increase in sales volumes, the share of battery-electric vehicles declined year-on-year. It marked the second consecutive month in which BEV market share fell compared with the same period a year earlier.
SMMT said the development partly reflects unusually strong electric vehicle sales at the beginning of the year, when buyers accelerated purchases ahead of tax changes scheduled to take effect in April.
Additional deliveries toward the end of 2025, aimed at helping manufacturers meet targets under the UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, also contributed to the year-on-year comparison.
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The overall UK new car market grew by 7.2% in February, supported mainly by a recovery in private retail demand.
Electrified powertrains continued to gain ground more broadly. Plug-in hybrid vehicles recorded the strongest growth during the month, with registrations rising 43.5% to represent 11.6% of the market. Hybrid electric vehicles also increased by 3.3%, accounting for a 13.1% share.
However, the pace of BEV adoption remains below the level required under the government’s regulatory framework. Year-to-date, battery-electric vehicles represent about 22.0% of new car registrations in the UK, while the ZEV mandate requires manufacturers to reach a 33% share of zero-emission car sales by 2026.
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Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, said the industry is closely watching upcoming sales trends.
“The UK’s new car market is continuing to recover and EV volumes are growing too, even if market share remains disappointing. All eyes are now on ‘new plate’ March, which typically sets the tone for the year – and given sales of new pure petrol and diesel cars are currently required to end in less than four years, EV uptake must accelerate rapidly,” Hawes said.
He added that the industry has invested heavily to support the transition toward electric mobility.
“Manufacturers have committed monumental investment to drive demand but such costs cannot be sustained indefinitely, making a review of the transition an urgent priority to ensure ambition matches natural demand.”
