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Battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations reached a new record in March 2026, up 24.2% to 86,120 units, with a market share of 22.6% for the month, and 22.4% year to date. In comparison there were just 18,571 diesel registrations in the month.
The path to these record EV registrations would already have been in motion before recent events unfolded in the Middle East. Since then online searches for EVs have increased dramatically, presumably as drivers understand that having a car which relies on oil to power it isn’t a particularly sensible idea with the prospect of increased petrol and diesel prices and potential fuel shortages.
According to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the overall UK new car market grew by 6.6% in March, typically the busiest month of the year, with 380,627 new vehicles registered. The performance marks the best March – and best month overall – since 2019.
Growth was driven primarily by private demand, with retail registrations rising 10.1% to 162,470 units. Fleet registrations increased 3.5% to 208,853 units, while the smaller business sector grew 18.8% to 9,304 units.
March was also the best month on record for ‘electrified’ (as opposed to electric) vehicle volumes, accounting for 196,059 registrations, with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) registrations rising 46.9% to take a 13.0% market share, while hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) increased 7.3% to take 15.8% of the market.
The Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate target is for 33% of new cars to be zero emission in 2026.
