Battery-electric vehicles continued to drive the UK’s transition to electric mobility in July, posting record market shares in both the passenger car and light commercial vehicle segments. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), BEV registrations rose by 44.5 per cent in the passenger car market and by 74.1 per cent among vans.
Let’s first look at the passenger cars: The UK registered 156,571 new passenger cars in July, up 11.7 per cent year on year. Electrified drivetrains accounted for virtually all of the market growth. BEVs recorded another monthly high, with registrations increasing by 44.5 per cent compared to July 2025 to capture a record market share of 27.5 per cent.
According to the SMMT, last year’s comparatively weak July performance was influenced by buyers delaying purchases until the government confirmed which models qualified for the Electric Car Grant (ECG).
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles also continued to gain ground. PHEV registrations increased by 33.6 per cent year on year, lifting their market share to 14.9 per cent. Combined, BEVs and PHEVs represented 42.4 per cent of all new passenger car registrations in July.
Graphic: SMMT
