New car registrations have hit their highest level for June since before the pandemic, powered by a strong surge in private and fleet registrations alongside record-breaking electric vehicle
New car registrations have hit their highest level for June since before the pandemic, powered by a strong surge in private and fleet registrations alongside record-breaking electric vehicle uptake.
New figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show 213,166 new cars were registered last month, up 11.4% year-on-year.
Top-selling models in June included Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3 plus the Ford Puma and Kia Sportage. Chart toppers for the year-to-date were led by the Ford Puma, Kia Sportage and Jaecoo 7.
Sales to private buyers increased by 12.5% whilst fleet deliveries rose 10.5% and the smaller business segment posted a 17.1% rise.
Fleets continued to comprise the lion’s share of the overall market, accounting for six in 10 (59.5%) new cars registered.
The market’s upward trajectory was driven entirely by electrified vehicles. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) rose 24.9% to take 12.5% of the market, while hybrids (HEVs) soared 25.3% and accounted for 14.0%.
But the most significant growth was achieved by battery electric vehicles (BEVs), which soared 35.0% to take an unprecedented 30.0% in June.
The SMMT said the rise in BEVs was the result of aggressive manufacturer discounting, a growing choice of models and traditional quarter-end push tactics, alongside rising consumer interest spurred by the impact of the Middle East conflict on fuel prices.
Across the first half of 2026, BEVs accounted for 25.0% of the market – up from 21.6% for the same period in 2025 and marking a record achievement, but still short of the 33% headline target under the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate.
The SMMT warned that to meet this headline target outright, BEVs would need to surpass 40% of new registrations across the rest of the year, pointing out that three out of every four buyers are currently choosing other powertrains.
However, independent analysts argue the headline 33% figure is widely misunderstood. Built-in flexibilities – such as pooling credits from low-emission hybrids – lower the car industry’s real 2026 EV compliance target to 24.6%, according to calculations by New Automotive. With the year-to-date BEV market share hovering right around the 24% mark, the industry seems to be on track to comply with its legal obligations, repeating its compliance track record from 2024 and 2025.
The SMMT has acknowledged that the mandate flexibilities are helping manufacturers comply for now, but claims “their value is diminishing as natural EV demand fails to grow at the pace expected”.
It says: “Despite more choice, government incentives and more than £12bn in manufacturer discounts, uptake is still not rising fast enough – damaging profitability, diverting investment and weakening residual values.”
Data from the SMMT’s latest UK Automotive Business Leaders Barometer indicates that automotive leaders are united in viewing the 2030 target as currently unachievable, with 100% of respondents saying the UK is behind the trajectory needed to meet the mandated 80% share, and almost three-quarters (73.8%) believing it is significantly behind.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, maintained that even June’s record EV levels were still not enough to meet mandated targets and that the market is not moving fast enough.
“Reforming the mandate now is essential not just to keep the transition on track but to protect the UK’s competitiveness, attract investment and safeguard jobs,” he stated.
Fleet and automotive industry leaders, reflecting on the latest SMMT figures, highlight a robust post-pandemic recovery and record-breaking electric vehicle market share, although they emphasised that long-term success depends on policy stability. Commentators widely warned that the current uncertainty regarding the ZEV mandate is hindering consumer confidence and emphasised the need for long-term regulatory stability.
Nick Williams, managing director at Lex Autolease, spotlighted that the move to electric has continued to mature, with EVs now accounting for around a quarter of new cars on UK roads for the year to date, thanks to strong corporate fleet adoption.
According to Williams, the transition is supported by a rapidly expanding, cost-competitive used market. “There’s a striking contrast in the affordability picture over last 12 months. Used EVs are now generally cheaper than their petrol equivalents and the second-hand market grew by around a third in the first quarter – supply that will continue to build this year as more ex-fleet vehicles return to dealers. For households that can’t justify a new EV at list price, the growing pool of used stock is a route in.”
Williams also highlighted stable charging costs compared to volatile fuel prices, with such predictability becoming as important in the case for electric as the headline savings. “Sustaining this momentum through the second half of 2026 will depend on stable policy signals, continued investment in charging and ensuring the value case stays clear,” he stated.
Jon Lawes, managing director at Novuna Vehicle Solutions, warned that much of the growth in BEVs is still being driven by heavy manufacturer discounts rather than stronger consumer demand.
“For many drivers, the biggest obstacle remains cost. More affordable electric cars are arriving, but buying, charging and running an EV still needs to make financial sense. Cutting the cost of public charging would be a major step forward.
“As the Government reviews the ZEV mandate, long-term policy certainty is vital. Industry and motorists alike need confidence that the UK’s transition to electric vehicles will stay on track,” he stated.
And Maria Bengtsson, EY UK & Ireland mobility leader, cautioned that the ZEV mandate is causing automakers to subsidise vehicles at levels which aren’t sustainable longer-term.
“While the BEV sales growth seen in recent months is a sign of encouraging progress, there is no doubt that increasing levels of production, and indeed sales, must be profitable in order for sustained progress to be feasible in the months and years ahead.”
Jamie Hamilton, automotive partner and head of electric vehicles at Deloitte, said BEV demand will continue to depend on both a supportive policy environment and improvements to current infrastructure – particularly off-street charging access for those without a driveway.
“As the Government considers changes to its zero-emission vehicle targets, greater regulatory certainty could help manufacturers plan investment and reassure consumers who may be considering making the switch.”
James Pollard, vice president of dealer accounts at Carwow, alerted that a survey indicates that ZEV mandate rumours have left 57% of consumers less confident about their next purchase, while over half (52%) said the uncertainty makes them ‘more likely’ to delay their next purchase, even though the proposed reforms would be a change to manufacturing and sales targets, not consumer incentives.
And Colin Walker, head of transport at the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said the impressive EV sales figures put calls by the car industry for the Government to weaken its EV sales targets in a different light.
“Were the Government to weaken the mandate yet again, it would be choosing regulatory uncertainty over stability. EV sticker prices could bounce back up, and the UK would remain dependent on volatile oil imports. Manufacturers would also be incentivised to sell more plug-in hybrids, which typically cost more to buy than EVs, and cost significantly more to run than is claimed – another Dieselgate scandal in the making. Furthermore, with 75% of the cars made in the UK exported, and the world rapidly embracing EVs, such flip-flopping would risk of a repeat of the mistakes of the 70s and 80s when a failure to modernise in the face of competition from abroad decimated the UK car industry, costing thousands of jobs.”
Finally, Melanie Lane, chief executive at EV charging provider Pod, urged the Government to hold its ground on the ZEV mandate.
Lane said the fact that the sector remains on track to meet this year’s target should give policymakers confidence that the framework is doing its job and working as intended.
She added that the new Prime Minister must focus on delivering a stable, long-term policy environment “that gives manufacturers, charging providers and drivers the confidence to keep investing and accelerating the UK’s transition to electric mobility”.
