Battery-electric cars are nearing petrol in the UK’s new-car market. In October 2026, BEVs captured 32% of registrations, with 48,858 cars sold, while petrol fell to 37.2%, or 56,876 cars. The overall market grew 5.4% year over year, but growth came from plug-ins: BEV sales rose 32.7% and plug-in hybrids 30.1%, while petrol sales dropped 11.6%. Across the first ten months, BEVs reached 26.6% of the market, up 30.4% in registrations; petrol’s share fell to 41.1% from 47.2% a year earlier. Extending recent monthly trends puts the two powertrains level around August 2027. December usually brings an EV sales surge as manufacturers pursue emissions targets, so BEVs could overtake petrol as soon as that month.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders forecasts BEVs will reach only 27.2% of the 2026 market, below the government’s 33% zero-emission target, and argues that mandates do not create consumer demand. The account counters that rising EV sales and falling petrol sales show demand is responding to discounts and incentives, while noting that a new EV road tax and VAT on public charging could undermine uptake. It also highlights rapid growth among Chinese brands such as BYD, Jaecoo and Chery, alongside Tesla’s weak October results. The central dispute is whether the mandate is an excessive burden on carmakers or an effective tool for accelerating a clear shift away from petrol.
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