UK Battery-Electric Vehicle Sales Climb in 2025 but Fall Short of Government Benchmarks
Registrations of battery-electric cars reached record levels last year yet did not meet the UK’s zero-emission sales targets, prompting industry calls for policy review
Sales of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) in the United Kingdom grew significantly in 2025, with registrations rising markedly year-on-year, but the pace of adoption still lagged behind official government targets.
Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders showed that around 473,300 BEVs were registered in 2025, an increase of nearly a quarter from the previous year and constituting roughly 23.4 per cent of all new car sales.
Electrified vehicles as a whole — including battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid models — accounted for nearly half of new registrations during the year.
Despite this progress, the UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle mandate — which required at least 28 per cent of new car sales to be zero-emission in 2025 — was met only in December, when BEV sales hit just over that threshold for the month, and remained below the annual target.
Industry leaders noted that the overall result underlines both significant consumer interest in electric vehicles and challenges in achieving sustained growth without heavy discounting.
Manufacturers and dealers reportedly offered incentives cumulatively worth billions of pounds to entice buyers, while the relative affordability of some Chinese-manufactured electric cars helped boost volumes.
The UK government has responded to slower than expected uptake by accelerating its planned review of the Zero Emission Vehicle sales targets, bringing forward the process originally scheduled for 2027. Ministers said the review will assess market conditions, infrastructure readiness and manufacturer capacity, even as they reaffirmed long-term goals to phase out sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035. The review’s early start reflects industry consensus that policy settings need to remain aligned with market dynamics if the UK is to meet increasingly ambitious EV benchmarks in the years ahead.
Looking ahead to 2026, forecasters predict that overall BEV registrations could approach or exceed 28 per cent of new car sales, buoyed by a broader model range and continued improvements in cost competitiveness.
However, sustainable progress is likely to depend on a combination of supportive regulation, consumer incentives and the expansion of charging infrastructure, as well as broader economic conditions influencing buyers’ purchasing decisions.
Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders showed that around 473,300 BEVs were registered in 2025, an increase of nearly a quarter from the previous year and constituting roughly 23.4 per cent of all new car sales.
Electrified vehicles as a whole — including battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid models — accounted for nearly half of new registrations during the year.
Despite this progress, the UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle mandate — which required at least 28 per cent of new car sales to be zero-emission in 2025 — was met only in December, when BEV sales hit just over that threshold for the month, and remained below the annual target.
Industry leaders noted that the overall result underlines both significant consumer interest in electric vehicles and challenges in achieving sustained growth without heavy discounting.
Manufacturers and dealers reportedly offered incentives cumulatively worth billions of pounds to entice buyers, while the relative affordability of some Chinese-manufactured electric cars helped boost volumes.
The UK government has responded to slower than expected uptake by accelerating its planned review of the Zero Emission Vehicle sales targets, bringing forward the process originally scheduled for 2027. Ministers said the review will assess market conditions, infrastructure readiness and manufacturer capacity, even as they reaffirmed long-term goals to phase out sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035. The review’s early start reflects industry consensus that policy settings need to remain aligned with market dynamics if the UK is to meet increasingly ambitious EV benchmarks in the years ahead.
Looking ahead to 2026, forecasters predict that overall BEV registrations could approach or exceed 28 per cent of new car sales, buoyed by a broader model range and continued improvements in cost competitiveness.
However, sustainable progress is likely to depend on a combination of supportive regulation, consumer incentives and the expansion of charging infrastructure, as well as broader economic conditions influencing buyers’ purchasing decisions.
