UK BEV Registrations Jump 38% to Hit Nearly 30% Share in June

UK battery-electric vehicle registrations rose 38% year-on-year to 64,440 units in June 2026, according to data published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), pushing EVs to a 29.8% share of the 215,921 new cars registered during the month — effectively 30% and the segment's strongest-ever performance outside the September and March plate-change peaks. Tesla was the UK's top-selling brand in June with 12,403 registrations, up 42% year-on-year, marking a significant rebound after several months of declining volume. BYD registered 2,999 vehicles, a 9% year-on-year increase. Despite the strong June result, the UK's year-to-date BEV share stands at 21.6%, well below the 28% zero-emission vehicle target set by the government's Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate for 2026. SMMT has revised its full-year 2026 BEV share forecast down to 26.8%, from an earlier 28.5%, citing persistent price sensitivity among private buyers and infrastructure gaps outside major urban areas. Fleet and business purchases continue to drive the majority of EV sales in the UK. The country passed a separate milestone in May 2026, when its two-millionth electric car was registered.