Cars & EVsbreaking news
UK new car registrations rise 5.4% in October as BEVs jump 32.7% and petrol falls
Electric sales climb while petrol drops, and the car industry's lobby group uses the figures to press the government to cut the ZEV Mandate targets.
October's registration numbers
The UK registered 152,730 new cars in October 2026, up 5.4% year-over-year, and buyers of electric cars and plug-in hybrids drove much of the growth. [1]
BEV registrations rose 32.7% to 48,858 units. [1] Plug-in hybrid registrations rose 30.1% to 22,898 units. [1] Petrol registrations fell 11.6% to 56,876 units. [1]
The year so far
Through October, the UK has registered 503,805 BEVs this year, up 30.4%, for a 26.6% market share. [1] Petrol's year-to-date share is 41.1%, down from 47.2% at the same point last year. [1]
Extending the linear trends, petrol and BEV shares cross around August 2027 at roughly 33% each. [1] UK BEV share also spikes every December as automakers push volume to get closer to their ZEV Mandate targets. [1]
Brands and models
BYD registered 6,065 cars in October, up 73%. [1] Tesla registered 282 cars, down 45% from 511 a year earlier. [1]
The top-selling BEV in October was the Skoda Enyaq with 1,568 registrations. [1]
The fight over the ZEV Mandate
The ZEV Mandate requires 33% of 2026 sales to be zero-emission. [1] The car industry and some unions are pushing to water it down. [2] The industry argues demand for EVs is too low to meet the requirements, despite having 'over-complied' to date. [2]
SMMT is using the release to push the government, again, to cut the targets. [1] It expects 32% zero-emission share next year against a 38% target, and 37.5% in 2028 against 52%. [1]
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: 'Higher targets may force supply, but they do not create demand.' [1] The trade group says automakers have spent 'billions' on discounts, 0% financing, deposit contributions, and subsidized charging to move EVs, on top of the government's Electric Car Grant. [1]
The government had already opened a review of the mandate this year. [1] The Budget confirmed a new EV-specific road tax (eVED) starting in 2028 and kept 20% VAT on public charging. [1]
Hybrids and the wider market
According to ACEA data, hybrids are the most popular type of car in the UK, but their sales are relatively stagnant. [2] Some 56,321 hybrids were sold in May 2026, an increase of 2% year-on-year. [2] Plug-in hybrid sales rose 24% year-on-year in May to 22,167. [2]
The IEA said global EV sales were set to grow by another 15% in 2026. [2]
What this means for you
If you are shopping for an EV, automakers have spent 'billions' on discounts, 0% financing, deposit contributions, and subsidized charging, on top of the government's Electric Car Grant. [1]
If you plan to own one for years, the Budget confirmed a new EV-specific road tax (eVED) starting in 2028 and kept 20% VAT on public charging. [1] To tell a pure EV from a hybrid on the road, look for the green stripe on the left-hand side of UK numberplates, which are not used for any type of hybrid. [2]
Sources
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