September car sales hit nine-year high as electric demand surges
Registrations rose 12.1 per cent to 350,518, the strongest September since 2017, with nearly 100,000 battery electrics sold, though the industry still trails the Government's EV mandate.
British new car registrations rose 12.1 per cent in September to 350,518, their highest level for the month since 2017, according to preliminary data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
Battery electric vehicle registrations climbed 36.3 per cent to a record 99,199, taking 28.3 per cent of the market, supported by greater model choice, manufacturer discounts and government grants. It was the tenth consecutive month of growth for the new car market.
The Jaecoo 7 was Britain's best-selling model in September with 10,813 registrations, while Tesla's Model 3 was the best-selling battery electric, ahead of the Model Y and BYD's Sealion 7.
Drivers are increasingly embracing the growing choice of models made available and high fuel prices are also undoubtedly giving more consumers reason to consider going electric.Mike Hawes, chief executive, SMMT
The milestone masks a tougher backdrop. EVs accounted for just 26.2 per cent of sales in the first nine months of the year, well below the 33 per cent mandated for 2026 under the zero-emission vehicle rules, and behind even last year's 28 per cent target. The SMMT has called for the mandate to be revised.
Mike Hawes, the SMMT's chief executive, said: “September's record EV performance is a major achievement. Drivers are increasingly embracing the growing choice of models made available and high fuel prices are also undoubtedly giving more consumers reason to consider going electric. The industry's commitment is clear with billions of pounds of investment in new models, new technology and incentives.”
Electrified vehicles took a record 58.4 per cent of September registrations. Plug-in hybrids rose 55.7 per cent to a record 17.0 per cent share, while conventional hybrid uptake dipped 4.2 per cent to 13.1 per cent.
Fleets drove much of the volume. Fleet registrations passed the one-million milestone for the year to date at 1,000,499, after a 9.6 per cent September surge to 190,988, while private registrations climbed 13.9 per cent to 149,158.
Vicky Edmonds, chief executive of the EV advocacy group EVA England, said: “Nearly 100,000 new electric cars were registered in September alone. That's clear evidence that growing numbers of drivers are convinced electric works for them. The challenge now is bringing the next wave of drivers with us by tackling the barriers that are genuinely holding people back: upfront cost, the gulf between home and public charging, and a charging network that still isn't reliable, accessible or easy enough to use. Greater policy uncertainty risks weakening, rather than strengthening, that momentum.”
The SMMT will publish final figures for the month on Monday.
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