Summary
The UK registered 99,199 new battery-electric cars in September 2026, up 36.3% year on year, according to preliminary SMMT figures. Battery-electric vehicles made up 26.2% of registrations in the first nine months, below the 33% share set for 2026.
The UK registered 99,199 new battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) in September 2026, a 36.3% increase on the same month last year and a record monthly total, according to preliminary figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). BEVs accounted for 28.3% of new-car registrations that month, compared with 23.3% in September 2025.
The wider new-car market also expanded: registrations rose 12.1% to 350,518, the strongest September since 2017. The SMMT attributed the electric-car increase to wider model choice, manufacturer discounts and the government’s Electric Car Grant. Those factors are the industry body’s explanation for the result, rather than a breakdown of how much each contributed.
A record month, but a lower year-to-date share
September’s rise did not bring the year’s BEV share up to the level set for 2026. From January through September, 454,945 new BEVs were registered, equivalent to 26.2% of the market. The SMMT says this is below both the 33% share required for 2026 and the 28% target for 2025.
The monthly and year-to-date figures describe different periods: September’s 28.3% share is above the 2026 target, while the first nine months together remain below it. The SMMT estimates that, on its latest outlook for a 2.183-million-unit market, reaching a 33% share for the full year would require another 265,000 BEV registrations in the final quarter. That is an industry estimate based on the stated market outlook.
More electric models on sale
The SMMT reports that 178 BEV models are now on sale in the UK, more than double the number in 2023. It also counts more than 110 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models and 50 hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) models. These categories are reported separately: BEVs use a rechargeable battery as their source of propulsion, while PHEVs combine battery power with an internal-combustion engine.
The figures point to a growing share of new-car registrations being electric, alongside a gap between recent uptake and the annual share specified for 2026. September’s record is a strong monthly result; the year-to-date total shows the scale of the remaining distance under the SMMT’s estimate.
The figures are preliminary and subject to change. The SMMT said full and final figures were due on 5 October 2026 at 9am.