According to the latest SMMT figures, new battery electric car uptake increased 34.2% in May to take 27.3% of the market, the highest recorded so far in 2026.

Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) uptake rose 1.8% and plug-in hybrid deliveries grew 23.9% to take a 13.8% market share.

Registrations of petrol and diesel cars, meanwhile, fell by -7.1% and -2.2% respectively.

Overall, the new car market rose 7.1% to 160,662 units, which is the best performance recorded for the month since 2019, although still -12.6% behind pre-pandemic levels.

The SMMT say that despite recent momentum, however, the transition to zero-emission mobility remains well behind the mandated trajectory. Year-to-date, BEVs account for just 23.9% of the market, short of the 33% required in 2026. While various flexibilities can be drawn upon to help meet the regulation, this widening gap between mandated targets and consumer demand is increasing pressure on manufacturers which must try to absorb the rising costs of compliance.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive: "Britain’s car buyers are responding to a market offering more choice than ever, from both new and familiar brands, resulting in a robust May. The EV transition is progressing, but consumer uptake still lags behind even today’s targets, let alone the ambition set out in the latest Carbon Budget.

"While industry shares the long-term ambition, the pathway to Net Zero must be credible. It cannot come at the cost of lost competitiveness and deindustrialisation. A review of the transition is now urgent to ensure ambition matches market realities and we have a sustainable path to road transport decarbonisation."