Electric car sales in the UK soared to their highest level on record in September, new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show. The surge highlights how rapidly drivers are embracing cleaner, low-emission vehicles as the country pushes toward a greener future.
Electric and hybrid cars dominate registrations
Sales of fully electric cars climbed by almost a third to 72,779 units in September. Plug-in hybrid models grew even faster, helping electric and hybrid cars together make up more than half of all new registrations. The SMMT said wider model choices, stronger discounts, and the government’s new grant scheme helped fuel the rise in demand.
Businesses and fleet buyers accounted for 71.4% of all new electric car purchases last month. But private ownership is growing too, as more drivers switch to battery power. Electric cars now represent more than one in five new vehicles registered so far in 2025.
Industry welcomes a turning point
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said electric vehicles were “powering market growth after a sluggish summer.” He added that years of industry investment in electric production were paying off, even if consumer demand had not yet matched expectations. Hawes praised the government’s £3,750 grant for qualifying models, saying it helped remove key financial barriers to adoption.
Record-breaking month for new car sales
A total of 312,887 new cars were registered in September, making it the best-performing September since 2020. That year, despite pandemic disruptions, still marks the strongest for the decade. The SMMT said the latest results came as the industry faced wider challenges, including new US tariffs and a cyberattack that disrupted Jaguar Land Rover’s production.
Familiar leaders and new challengers
The Kia Sportage, Ford Puma, and Nissan Qashqai were the UK’s top-selling cars in September. Two new Chinese models, the Jaecoo 7 and BYD Seal U, also broke into the top ten. Their success reflects the growing influence of international brands in the UK’s expanding electric market.
Government incentives drive stronger sales
Government figures show more than 20,000 people have already benefited from the electric car grant scheme. The discounts apply to models from major brands such as Ford, Toyota, Vauxhall, and Citroen. Cars priced below £37,000 qualify, with the cleanest vehicles receiving the biggest savings. Thirty-six models now meet the criteria for reductions of at least £1,500.
Demand for electric vehicles surges nationwide
Ian Plummer, chief commercial officer at Autotrader, said the grant had given the market “a real lift.” He reported that enquiries for new electric cars have risen by almost 50% since July, while interest in grant-eligible models has more than doubled.
Plummer said that dropping prices, growing incentives, and greater availability were encouraging more drivers to ditch petrol and diesel cars. He added that the surge in interest showed Britain’s electric transition was gaining speed faster than many had expected.
