The UK automotive market reached a major milestone in 2025 as nearly one in four cars sold in the UK were BEVs, highlighting how electric mobility is moving from early adoption into the mainstream. The year marked a clear turning point, with electric vehicles accelerating while traditional petrol and diesel cars continued to decline.
BEV Sales Surge and Market Share Growth
In 2025, more than 477,000 battery electric vehicles were registered across the UK. This translated into a 23.4% share of the total car market and represented a strong 21.6% year-on-year increase compared to 2024. Put simply, nearly one in four cars sold in the UK were BEVs, underlining growing consumer confidence in fully electric models.
December 2025 was particularly significant. BEVs became the single most sold vehicle type during the month, with over 46,000 registrations. Their 32.7% market share aligned closely with the government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate and met the 2026 target of 33% a year early.
Electrified Vehicles Dominate New Registrations
Electrification extended beyond BEVs. Hybrid electric vehicles ended 2025 with the largest overall market share at nearly 32%, with more than 652,000 units registered during the year. In total, over two million cars were sold in 2025, and more than half of them featured some form of electrification. Meanwhile, petrol and diesel vehicle sales declined further, reinforcing the structural shift away from internal combustion engines.
Policy Impact and Industry Response
Industry experts noted that the car sector met its ZEV mandate targets for the second consecutive year. This progress is expected to strengthen the second-hand EV market, easing affordability pressures for drivers and supporting the cost-of-living transition.
However, concerns remain. While incentives like the Electric Car Grant have supported adoption, new taxes, city charges, and high public charging costs have sent mixed signals to consumers and manufacturers alike. Clearer and more consistent policies are seen as essential to sustain momentum.
Charging Infrastructure: The Next Priority
As nearly one in four cars sold in the UK were BEVs, attention has turned to infrastructure readiness. Charge point operators stressed the importance of keeping charging deployment ahead of demand, particularly in local communities. Expanding reliable, affordable, and accessible charging will be critical to encourage hesitant buyers and meet future ZEV targets.
Looking Ahead
Nearly one in four cars sold in the UK were BEVs in 2025; the direction of travel is unmistakable. The challenge now is converting strong momentum into long-term stability through supportive policies, a robust used EV market, and a charging network that keeps pace with the electric future.
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