UK new car market dips in August, EVs hit record share

(Sharecast News) - UK new car registrations fell 2.0% year-on-year in August to 82,908 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, as fleet demand softened and buyers awaited the September number plate change.

Fleet volumes declined 4.6% to 48,980 vehicles, although the segment still made up 59.1% of the market. Private registrations edged up 0.7% to 32,319, while business sales surged 41.6% to 1,609 units, albeit from a low base.

Battery electric vehicles continued to gain ground, with registrations up 14.9% to 21,969 units, representing a 26.5% market share - the highest recorded in 2025 and the fourth highest on record - something the SMMT attributed to the growth of increased model choice, manufacturer discounting, and the early impact of the UK government's new Electric Car Grant.

Plug-in hybrids posted the strongest growth in August, surging 69.4% to an 11.8% share, while hybrid electric vehicles fell 13.9% to 11.4%. Petrol and diesel registrations slumped 14.2% and 16.6%, respectively.

Year-to-date, the UK new car market was up 2.1% to 1.265m units, a five-year high but still 16.7% below pre-Covid levels. BEVs account for 21.9% of registrations so far in 2025, trailing the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate target of 28%.





Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com