Battery electric car demand rises 39.1% in June

Registrations of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) jumped 39.1% to 47,354 units this June, equivalent to a quarter (24.8%) of the market, according to the latest SMMT figures.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) meanwhile grew 28.8% to 21,382 units. The market for new hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), meanwhile, fell by -8.5% to 23,835 registrations.

New petrol registrations declined -4.2% and diesel volumes were flat (+0.2%), meaning their combined share of the market is now just over half (51.6%), with total electrified vehicle registrations (92,571) achieving a 48.5% market share. 

Across the first six months of 2025 new BEV registrations have risen 34.6% to 224,841 units but, at 21.6% market share. However, the SMMT points out that they remain significantly behind the 28% mandated for this year. 

The SMMT also raises that the industry has discounted EVs heavily - totalling £6.5 billion over the last 18 months - to drive demand.
 
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive: "A second consecutive month of growth for the new car market is good news, as is the positive performance of EVs. That EV growth, however, is still being driven by substantial industry support with manufacturers using every channel and unsustainable discounting to drive activity, yet it remains below mandated levels. As we have seen in other countries, government incentives can supercharge the market transition, without which the climate change ambitions we all share will be under threat."