The UK's transition to electric mobility is gaining significant momentum, with new battery electric car (BEV) registrations experiencing a robust 28.0% increase in May compared to the same month last year. The latest figures, released by New AutoMotive, reveal a market increasingly embracing cleaner transport, as sales of traditional petrol and diesel vehicles continue to wane.
In May, a total of 31,519 new electric cars were registered, capturing a significant 21.9% of the total car market. This strong monthly performance contributes to an impressive year-to-date figure of 175,165 BEVs registered in the first five months of 2025. This represents a 29.0% increase on the same period in 2024 and brings the running market share for electric cars to nearly 21% for the year so far. The overall UK car market saw a 4.3% increase in registrations in May compared to May 2024.
The shift is further highlighted by the decline in fossil-fuelled vehicle sales. Petrol car sales fell by 23.6% in May 2025 compared to May 2024, settling at a 29.11% market share. Diesel sales also saw a drop of 1.9% year-on-year for May, accounting for a diminishing 5.56% of the market. Year-to-date figures paint an even starker picture for conventional fuels, with petrol car registrations down by 28.3% and diesel down by 15.6% compared to the first five months of 2024. In contrast, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) saw registrations rise by 15.1% in May, securing a 31.54% market share, while plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) experienced a notable 57.6% surge in registrations, claiming 11.91% of the May market. Year-to-date, HEVs are up 18.5% and PHEVs by 26.6%. Combined, BEVs and PHEVs constituted a third of all new cars registered in May.
Ben Nelmes, CEO of New AutoMotive, commented on the positive trend: “May's figures are a clear indicator that the UK's journey to electric mobility is not just on track, but accelerating. A 28% surge in electric car registrations, and nearly one in five new cars being electric year-to-date, shows that consumers are increasingly choosing the cleaner, cheaper, and better driving experience that EVs offer. The ZEV mandate is clearly working, encouraging manufacturers to bring more electric models to the market and making it easier for drivers to make the switch.”
Electric Van Sector Shows Powerful Growth
The commercial vehicle sector is also witnessing a significant electric shift. Year-to-date registrations for battery electric vans (BEVs) surged by an impressive 41.0%, reaching 9,776 units and capturing a market share of 7.9%. In May alone, 1,532 electric vans were registered, an increase of 47.3% compared to May 2024, though their market share for the month was slightly lower at 7.13%. This growth signals increasing confidence among businesses making the switch to electric commercial vehicles, eager to unlock running cost savings and productivity improvements. However, overall new van registrations in May were down compared to twelve months prior, a reduction primarily driven by a fall in diesel van registrations. Both BEV and HEV vans, however, saw a rise in new registrations.
Volkswagen has notably cemented its position in the electric van sector, with its BEV share rising from 8.4% in May 2024 to 20.8% in May 2025, significantly outperforming the 2025 headline ZEV mandate target of 16% for vans. Maxus also demonstrated strong performance, achieving a 27.9% BEV share in May. Vauxhall maintained a year-to-date BEV share of 16.95% (1,784 units), keeping them above their specific obligations under the mandate's flexibilities. Ford, despite selling the highest number of electric vans year-to-date (2,455 units for a 5.38% BEV share of their van sales), faces a considerable ZEV mandate credit deficit.
The upcoming change in driving license rules, effective from 10th June 2025, is anticipated to further boost demand. Category B license holders will be permitted to drive zero-emission vans up to 4,250kg without requiring additional training, aligning regulations with the ZEV Mandate and expanding access to a fuller range of ZEV vans.
Manufacturer Competition Intensifies in a Shifting Market
The UK's EV market is becoming increasingly competitive. While Tesla has long dominated, established manufacturers are rapidly closing the gap. New AutoMotive suggests that BMW or Volkswagen are likely to see their BEV sales overtake Tesla in the UK during 2025, possibly as early as next month. Tesla's UK sales were reported to be down 10% year-to-date. For the year up to May, Tesla registered 15,075 BEVs, securing 8.61% of the BEV market. BMW followed closely with 14,680 BEVs (8.38% share), and Volkswagen registered 14,465 BEVs (8.26% share). Indeed, Tesla, BMW, and Volkswagen each held an approximate 8% share of the BEV market. Tesla led BMW by just 0.23%, with Volkswagen trailing by a mere 0.35%. Volkswagen's performance has been particularly striking, with a 201% year-on-year increase in BEV registrations, positioning it to potentially claim the top spot soon.
This surge is not isolated. Nine marques within the top 20 have experienced growth exceeding 100% year-on-year. These include Peugeot (+112%), Skoda (+143%), Ford (+324%), BYD (+261%), Renault (+246%), Polestar (+173%), Cupra (+106%), and UK-manufactured electric Minis (+292%). This dynamic growth is predominantly driven by European and US manufacturers, with BYD standing out as the sole Chinese brand among these rapidly ascending contenders. Audi also performed strongly with 11,379 BEV registrations YTD, followed by Peugeot (9,888), Skoda (8,452), Mercedes-Benz (8,308), Ford (8,090), and BYD (8,044).
The Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate: Driving Change
The ZEV mandate is a critical policy shaping the market. For 2025, the headline target for manufacturers is for 28% of their car sales to be zero-emission. However, companies can generate additional credits by exceeding CO2 emissions targets on their internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle sales, including hybrids and plug-in hybrids. New AutoMotive calculates a “real target” based on these factors, which for May stood at 22.04%.
Several major manufacturer groups are tracking comfortably ahead of their estimated real ZEV mandate targets for cars based on year-to-date UK registrations. VW Group, BMW Group, Geely (which includes Volvo and Polestar), SAIC (MG), BYD, and Tesla are all currently in surplus. Conversely, Stellantis, Ford, Toyota, Renault, Mercedes, Nissan, Hyundai, Tata (Jaguar Land Rover), Mazda, Honda, Chery, and Suzuki are showing a credit shortfall against their estimated targets. These positions are expected to evolve as the year progresses and manufacturers adjust their strategies.
For vans, the 2025 ZEV mandate target is 16%. Similar to the car mandate, flexibilities exist around ICE van CO2 emissions. Ford, despite leading in total BEV van registrations, faces a potential credit deficit of 4,536. Stellantis, Volkswagen, Nissan, and Geely, however, maintain a credit surplus, positioning them strongly as the year progresses. New AutoMotive notes that if Ford does not increase BEV registrations or purchase credits, they risk creating a “cliff-edge” for themselves by borrowing from future years' allowances.
Charging Ahead: Infrastructure and Consumer Choice Expand
The growth in EV adoption is supported by positive developments in charging infrastructure and vehicle availability. Fiona Howarth, Founder of Octopus Electric Vehicles, stated, “We've seen yet another strong month for EVs – proving that people want to drive electric. There has been a clear shift in the market, with car manufacturers new and old bringing out new, cheaper models every month – improving driver choice and helping to make the switch to cleaner, low cost driving.”
Simon Smith, Chief Commercial Officer at InstaVolt, highlighted the UK's progress: “Another solid month of EV uptake in the UK – making the country the flagbearer. The UK is also the role model for how private business can roll out a world class charging infrastructure, just like our Winchester Superhub. What's important now is to continue to deliver what customers want, and make the experience easier than ever to tap, charge and go.”
John Lewis, CEO of char.gy, emphasised the need for accessible charging: “With BEVs now making up 22% of all car sales in the UK, we're proud to see the UK establishing itself as one of Europe's leaders in the EV transition. But to keep pace, CPOs must be just as ambitious. Imagine the numbers if everyone had access to affordable, convenient charging.”
Recent positive steps include legislation easing planning rules for home charger installation and news that the public charging network has grown by 30% year-on-year and is on track to reach 300,000 chargers by 2030.
Broader Perspectives and the Road Ahead
While the growth is undeniable, some industry experts urge continued ambition. Dan Caesar, CEO of EVUK, remarked, “Another solid, if not spectacular, month for the sales of battery EVs. BEVs now regularly account for 1 in 5 new car sales, but what can be done to move the needle to 1 in 4 and then to 1 in 3 as we've seen in numerous other European markets? While the UK was the biggest BEV market (by volume) in Europe in 2024, we can ill afford to rest on our laurels, and ambitious automakers will expect to see an overarching strategy that accelerates growth in short order.”
Quentin Willson, Founder of FairCharge, added, “Another strong month of EV sales with a 22% share shows that demand continues to be solid, despite media narratives to the contrary. The U.K. is now a European leader in electric car sales, and EV thought leadership but more needs to be done by government and car makers to drive demand and continue growing adoption, particularly among private buyers.”
The data also indicates a steady improvement in the WLTP emissions ratings of new ICE cars, likely driven by the flexibilities within the ZEV mandate that reward manufacturers for selling more fuel-efficient lower-emission vehicles. However, Fiona Howarth, Founder of Octopus Electric Vehicles, added: “We’ve seen yet another strong month for EVs – proving that people want to drive electric. There has been a clear shift in the market, with car manufacturers new and old bringing out new, cheaper models every month – improving driver choice and helping to make the switch to cleaner, low cost driving.”
Challenges in Other Electric Segments
The picture is less rosy for electric heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and motorbikes. In May, only 16 electric HGVs were registered, representing a mere 0.48% of total HGV registrations. Year-to-date, BEV HGVs account for just 0.73% of the market. New AutoMotive describes progress in this segment as “glacial,” warning that the UK's commitment to phase out HGVs weighing 26 tonnes or less by 2035, and all others by 2040, seems “increasingly out of reach” without stronger policies, such as a dedicated HGV ZEV mandate.
The electric motorbike market also continued to struggle in May, with 361 units registered, translating to a 4.08% market share for the month, despite a 10.1% increase in registrations compared to May 2024. Year-to-date, electric motorbike registrations are down 16.7% to 1,176 units, holding a 3.24% market share. Experts suggest that without interventions like purchase incentives or a dedicated ZEV mandate for two-wheelers, significant electrification in this segment is unlikely.
As the UK steers towards its net-zero ambitions, the sustained growth in electric car and van adoption is a clear positive signal. However, maintaining this momentum and extending it to all vehicle segments will require continued effort from manufacturers, policymakers, and infrastructure providers.
Discussion about this post