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UK Car Market Surges in February as EV Uptake Slows Amid EU Policy Debate
February new car sales rose 7.2% year-on-year to 90,100 registrations despite electric vehicle market share slipping to 24.2%, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said.
- SMMT reported UK new car registrations rose 7.2% to 90,100 last month, marking the strongest February volume since 2004.
- Recovering private retail registrations climbed 17.6%, while fleets owned or leased by businesses accounted for nearly three out of five sales and rose 1.8%.
- Powertrain data indicate plug-in hybrid electric vehicles surged 43.5%, petrol registrations increased 5.2%, and diesel fell 3.8%.
- The Government's ZEV mandate requires at least 33% zero-emission car sales this year, and manufacturers' monumental investment has prompted calls for a transition review using flexibilities like plug-in hybrids.
- SMMT noted pure battery EV market share fell from 25.3% to 24.2%, partly due to early 2025 purchase shifts to avoid tax, ahead of March 'new plate' period.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Evening Standard
February demand for new cars hit 22-year high
Some 90,100 new cars were registered last month, latest figures suggest.
BEVs stall as petrol pulls UK new-car registrations forward
The UK new-car market saw its best February performance since 2004 last month. However, the country’s BEV market saw its struggles continue, as it fails to meet expectations placed upon it. In total, 90,100 passenger cars were registered in the month, a 7.2% year-on-year increase, data from the SMMT shows. February is often considered one of the UK’s slower months, as buyers wait for the traditional plate-change period in March. While every powe…
New car sales hit 22-year high in February
New car sales rose by 7.2% in February to 90,100 registrations, according to new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). This makes it the highest February […] The post New car sales hit 22-year high in February first appeared on Bodyshop Magazine.
New car sales UP by 7.2% in February, but EV market share DECLINES - Ford Puma the best-seller
New car sales in the UK in February 2026 rose by 7.2% to 90,100, the highest numbers for 22 years, despite which the EV market share fell. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), new car registrations in the UK in February 2026 rose by 7.2% to 90,100, the highest number since […] The post New car sales UP by 7.2% in February, but EV market share DECLINES – Ford Puma the best-seller appeared first on Cars UK.
New car sales hit 20-year high as electric vehicle share shrinks – Your Capital Minds
New car sales in the UK surged to their highest February level in more than two decades, highlighting continued recovery in the automotive market. However, industry figures show the transition to electric vehicles is losing momentum, with the market share of fully electric cars falling for the second consecutive month. According to data compiled by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), more than 90,000 new vehicles were register…
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