Battery electric vehicles sales jump in 2025

Battery electric vehicles saw their share of new sales in the UK rise to reach almost a quarter last year, but still fell short of Government ambitions.

Almost half a million (473,348) new BEVs were registered in 2025, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), making up 23.4% of sales compared to the mandated target of 28%.

The BEV sales figure was more than in the whole of 2021 and 2022 combined and is likely to place the UK as the second biggest EV market in Europe by volume.

SMMT highlighted manufacturer investment as a key to the EV expansion. It said the choice in BEV models had grown from 130 to 160 models during 2025 and at least 60 more are due in 2026.

However, it warned that a new tax on EVs purchased from 2028 “sends a confusing message to consumers, undermining rather than encouraging market confidence”.