Electric car sales in the UK soared to unprecedented levels in September 2025, fueled by government grants of up to £3,750 and an expanding range of models. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), sales of pure battery electric vehicles (BEVs) jumped by nearly a third—29%—compared to the same month last year, reaching a record 72,779 registrations. Plug-in hybrid sales raced ahead even faster, swelling by 56% to 38,300 units.
The surge comes after the UK government reintroduced an electric car grant in July, following heavy lobbying from manufacturers struggling to meet the country’s strict zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate. The grants, which cover about a quarter of battery cars on the market—including popular models from Citroën, Renault, Nissan, and Vauxhall—are capped at vehicles costing £37,000 or less and exclude most Chinese brands due to emissions rules during manufacturing.
Discounts, Grants, and Growing Choice Drive the Boom
SMMT credits the sales spike to a combination of government incentives, increasing manufacturer discounts, and a broader selection of electric models. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander commented, “Our discounts have sparked a surge in electric car sales, making them cheaper and within reach of more households than ever before.” Interest is clearly surging: online searches for new EVs on Autotrader have climbed by 50% since July, and doubled for grant-eligible models.
For the first time, electric and hybrid vehicles accounted for more than half of all new car registrations last month—just over 50% of the 312,887 vehicles registered. The total number of new vehicles registered was up nearly 14% year-on-year, marking the best September for the market since 2020.
Private Buyers and Price Gaps
While 71.4% of BEVs went to business and fleet buyers, private ownership is on the rise, with zero-emission vehicles making up 22.1% of all new cars registered so far in 2025. Used EV prices have tumbled by over 20% since last year, and the price gap between new petrol and electric cars has narrowed by 14%, now averaging £8,229. That’s still a chunk of change, but it’s shrinking—especially when factoring in up to £1,500 in annual running cost savings for EV drivers.
With the UK targeting 28% of new car sales to be zero-emission by the end of 2025—and aiming to phase out petrol and diesel cars entirely by 2030—the latest figures suggest the market is already ahead of schedule. For many drivers, the government grant seems to be the nudge needed to make the switch: “The grant is transforming curiosity into action, encouraging drivers to try an electric car for the first time – and once they do, most never look back.”
