2 October 2026
Nearly 100,000 new EVs were registered in the UK in September, according to preliminary figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), marking the strongest month on record for EV sales.
The SMMT’s figures show 99,199 new BEVs registered during the month, up 36.3% on the same period last year. That equates to almost five new electric cars joining UK roads every minute throughout September.
The record month has been driven by a combination of factors, including a wider choice of models, manufacturer incentives, and the Government’s Electric Car Grant.
Responding to the figures, EVA England CEO Vicky Edmonds said:
“Today’s figures reinforce the case for stability in the ZEV Mandate, not more uncertainty around it. Nearly 100,000 new electric cars were registered in September alone. That’s clear evidence that growing numbers of drivers are convinced electric works for them.
“The challenge now is bringing the next wave of drivers with us by tackling the barriers that are genuinely holding people back: upfront cost, the gulf between home and public charging, and a charging network that still isn’t reliable, accessible or easy enough to use. Greater policy uncertainty risks weakening, rather than strengthening, that momentum.”
Minister for Climate Transition Katie White also welcomed the figures, saying:
“Today’s figures show Britain’s electric car boom is alive and well. People are making the switch because it’s greener, but also because it’s an upgrade: quicker acceleration, a quieter, smoother drive and cheaper running costs.
“I’ve driven electric for six years, and long gone are the days of worrying about making it to the next charger. We now have more public chargers than petrol pumps, longer ranges and up to £3,750 off an eligible new EV through our Electric Car Grant. Going electric is increasingly a no-brainer, and that’s great news for drivers, our economy and the planet.”
Note: The SMMT’s figures are preliminary and subject to revision; full and final figures are due to be published on Monday 5 October.