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UK New-Car BEV Registrations Hit a Record in September 2026, Up 36.3%

Preliminary SMMT figures show a record 99,199 new UK battery-electric car registrations in September 2026, but year-to-date BEV share remained below the 33% headline ZEV mandate target.

By CarCody Team 3 min read

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The UK registered a preliminary record 99,199 new battery-electric cars in September 2026, 36.3% more than in September 2025. That is a record monthly total for new-car registrations—not a count of every electric vehicle on UK roads—and the month’s 28.3% battery-electric share sits alongside a more measured 26.2% share for January to September.

How many electric cars were registered in the UK in September 2026?

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), 99,199 new battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) were registered in September, compared with 72,775 a year earlier. The 36.3% rise set a record monthly volume for UK new-car BEV registrations. These are registrations of new cars, not used-car sales or a measure of the total number of EVs on UK roads. SMMT describes its monthly figures as registrations reported through UK main dealer networks or manufacturers’ head-office direct sales operations, processed through its validation system. SMMT’s car-registration data guide explains the reporting basis.

Why have UK EV registrations surged 36.3% in September?

SMMT credits the increase to a wider choice of models, manufacturer incentives and government grants. It said 178 BEV models were on sale—more than double the number in 2023—alongside more than 110 plug-in hybrid models and 50 conventional hybrids. SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes also pointed to high fuel prices as a reason more drivers may consider going electric.

Those are SMMT’s explanations, not measured contributions from a causal study: its release does not establish how much of the rise came from grants, discounts, fuel costs or model choice individually. SMMT also described intense competition, new entrants and attractive deals as factors behind the broader market’s growth, saying some buyers may have been drawn away from the used-car market.

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What share of new cars were electric?

BEVs accounted for 28.3% of all new-car registrations in September 2026, compared with 23.3% in September 2025. The September result is notable, but it needs context: total new-car registrations also rose, and September is a major plate-change month. SMMT says the month typically accounts for around one in seven annual registrations, so its share should not be treated as representative of an ordinary month.

Here is the preliminary September breakdown. Market share is each category’s proportion of all new-car registrations.

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Fuel category Registrations Year-on-year change September 2026 share September 2025 share
Battery electric (BEV) 99,199 +36.3% 28.3% 23.3%
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) 59,563 +55.7% 17.0% 12.2%
Hybrid electric (HEV) 45,838 −4.2% 13.1% 15.3%
Petrol 131,861 −6.7% 37.6% 45.2%
Diesel 14,057 +11.5% 4.0% 4.0%
All new cars 350,518 +12.1% not stated (SMMT) not stated (SMMT)

In SMMT’s categories, petrol and diesel totals include mild hybrids, which do not have a separate headline category. A BEV runs only on battery power; a PHEV has a plug-in battery as well as a combustion engine; an HEV has a battery and engine but cannot be plugged in. The September mix shows why “electric” needs a precise definition: the 28.3% figure refers to battery-only cars, while plug-in hybrids and non-plug-in hybrids are counted separately.

Did BEVs grow faster than the whole new-car market?

Yes. Total new-car registrations increased 12.1% year on year to 350,518, while BEV registrations climbed 36.3%. SMMT called September the strongest September since 2017 and the tenth consecutive month of growth for the overall market. The BEV increase therefore outpaced a broader expansion in new-car registrations, rather than occurring in a shrinking market.

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Are EV sales on track for the 2026 ZEV mandate?

The longer view is less dramatic than September alone. From January through September 2026, 454,945 BEVs were registered, up 30.2% from 349,410 in the same period of 2025. BEVs represented 26.2% of registrations over those nine months, compared with 22.1% in the equivalent 2025 period. SMMT cited a 33% headline ZEV mandate target for 2026, so the observed year-to-date market share was below that headline percentage.

That comparison is not, on its own, a full verdict on manufacturers’ legal compliance. SMMT notes that regulatory flexibilities affect how the mandate operates, and its characterization of the policy challenge is the view of an automotive industry trade body. The 28.3% September share does not replace the 26.2% year-to-date figure.

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Which electric cars topped September registrations?

SMMT’s preliminary top five BEV models by September registrations were:

  1. Tesla Model 3: 9,929
  2. Tesla Model Y: 5,946
  3. BYD Sealion 7: 3,191
  4. BYD Seal: 3,184
  5. Kia EV3: 3,026

These are registration counts, not ratings of quality or reliability. The all-powertrain model ranking was different: the JAECOO 7 led all models with 10,813 registrations, while the Tesla Model 3 ranked second overall.

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How firm are the September figures?

SMMT labelled the September 2026 figures preliminary and said they could change. As of 3 October 2026, the scheduled publication date for full and final data was 5 October 2026; the figures here therefore reflect the preliminary release, not confirmed final values. SMMT’s account of the market and its proposed growth drivers should likewise be read as the trade body’s interpretation.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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