Electric car sales in the UK now outnumber diesel sales for new vehicles. From January to October 2025, buyers registered 386,244 electric cars, makes up 22.4% of total new car sales. This is already more than was sold throughout 2024, rising 29% from the same period last year.
Diesel’s share has kept shrinking. In 2016, diesel cars had almost half the market. By late 2025, their share fell to just over 5%. In October, only 6,907 diesel cars were sold, 23% fewer than the year before.
Record Electric sales in Autumn
September saw a record, 72,779 battery electric registrations, reaching 23.3% of the month’s total. This is 29% more than last September. The strong trend continued in October, which saw 36,830 new electric cars sold.
New UK policy requires that 28% of 2025 new cars must have zero emissions, rising by set steps until 2035, after which only zero-emission models can be sold.
| Annual ZEV Mandate targets to 2035 | |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 22% |
| 2025 | 28% |
| 2026 | 33% |
| 2027 | 38% |
| 2028 | 52% |
| 2029 | 66% |
| 2030 | 80% |
| 2035 | 100% |
The government also started a grant in July 2025, giving buyers £1,500 to £3,750 off electric cars priced under £37,000, provided the carmaker meets green rules. Over 40 models now meet these terms.
Support for manufacturing and charging
Strong investment is going to local car plants and charging. The DRIVE35 campaign promises £2 billion for manufacturing and charging upgrades through 2030, plus £500 million for research until 2035. New battery factories and car part plants are planned or under construction in places like Sunderland and Bolton. Charging has improved, with 86,798 public devices now in use at over 44,000 sites. More rapid chargers have been added, and one new public charger comes online every half hour.
Choice for electric models keeps growing. Buyers now have more than 130 options, from UK and overseas brands. Chinese makers like BYD are increasing sales quickly. Discounts on electric models average nearly £5,840, and the gap in lease payments between petrol and electric is now just £32. Some electric cars now cost less over time than petrol alternatives.
Business buyers and fleets, benefiting from tax savings, support much of the electric growth. Private buyers have lagged behind but began picking up in mid-2025. Petrol cars still hold the biggest market share but are declining as more electrified models become common.
The UK is on track for over 2 million new car registrations in 2025. About 23% should be electric and the share is expected to rise again in 2026 and 2027.
Industry experts think that new investment, more public information, better warranties, and improved price offers will help buyers move to electric. The shift from diesel to electric is strong, setting up a new path for UK car buying.
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