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According to SMMT data, U.K. new car registrations in May were;
Petrol 66,223 units (41.2% market share)
BEV 43,931 units (27.3% market share)
More recent figures for June show;
Petrol 84,541 units (39.7% market share)
BEV 63,950 units (30% market share)
The gap is narrowing, but not quite there yet.
Sry got it wrong.
Official UK records show that in the 12-month period leading up to May 2026, UK consumers bought 516,490 new battery electric vehicles (BEVs). This historic milestone meant that, for the first time, BEV sales narrowly outpaced new petrol cars, driven by rising fuel prices and manufacturer discounts.
For a breakdown of the specific models driving these numbers, you can review the latest registration data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Trader
To further add an whole market share.
The Society SMMT revised its full-year 2026 BEV market share forecast from 28.5% to 26.8% in its April 2026 outlook, citing softer-than-expected Q1 demand. As of the end of June 2026, there have been 284,579 fully electric cars registered in 2026, representing a market share of 25.0%.
As of the end of June 2026, there have been 284,579 fully electric cars registered in 2026, representing a market share of 25.0%.
….and over that same period petrol cars registered were 490,944 representing 43.1% market share.
Even though petrol cars continue to way outsell BEVs, the gap is narrowing, although still way behind ZEV mandate levels (2026 target 33%). It will be interesting to see if Burnham softens them. I guess a lot will depend on whether Milliband becomes chancellor or not?
I have no doubt that in a year or so’s time BEVs could start to out sell petrol cars, especially if fuel prices remain high, but I bet that we are still at the stage where the majority of adopters fall into one of the following categories – company car drivers (lower benefit in kind taxation), Motability customers (all the worries of EV ownership are removed) and, of course, the biggest group – those who can charge at home. When we get to the stage that the vast majority of drivers in those groups have switched, I can see the pace of growth slowing. The government will then have to face the choice of softening or scrapping the mandates in order to keep the car industry going, or accepting that new car sales will fall, as those unwilling to switch just keep their ICE cars longer, or buy a newer (but still used) ICE car.
The data shows the crossover point was May this year.
Also what is accelerating the figures is that vehicle manufacturers are limiting petrol car numbers in the uk as they do not want to pay the £15k fine for overselling petrol cars.
Waiting times for petrol cars are increasing.
The data shows the crossover point was May this year.
Would you mind posting the specific data that shows BEV sales surpassing petrol? I already posted official SMMT data for May, which shows petrol cars outselling BEVs by over 50% (66,223 petrol versus 43,931 BEV’s). Your data seems to suggest a completely different picture!
“In May 2026, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reported 160,662 new car registrations, marking a 7.1% increase year-on-year. This figure represents the strongest May since 2019, with battery-electric vehicle (BEV) registrations rising by 34.2% to 43,931 units, achieving a 27.3% share of the market. However, the year-to-date BEV share still stands at 23.9%, which is below the 33% target set by the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate”
Nissan has ditched plans to buld the electric qashqai following a range of mabufacturers turning their backs.
i think he is confusing European Automobile Manufacturers, with the uk sales and the info is from carbon brief
Analysis: UK sales of electric vehicles just overtook petrol cars for the first time
That clears it up then!
The ACEA classifies anything with a battery as a BEV regardless whether it has an ICE, where as the SMMT categorise vehicles in different groups i.e FHEV, PHEV & BEV.
So the point that BEV’s out sold petrol was not actually the case?
. So the point that BEV’s out sold petrol was not actually the case?
Actually it is exactly what the article title says.
UK sales of EV,s just overtook petrol cars
So the point that BEV’s out sold petrol was not actually the case?
Correct. Petrol cars outsold BEVs by 50% in the U.K. in May, as per the SMMT data that I have quoted.
Thanks @PaulH for sharing that article, which is misleading in the extreme due to the bizarre way that the organisation that they cite splits their data. Given the vast numbers of petrol cars that now have some form of mild hybrid system, to conveniently not count them as petrol cars in order to make a false argument is farcical.
According to the way that this organisation classifies data, and how Carbon Brief reports it, the petrol car that I recently purchased, which runs solely on petrol is apparently not a petrol car. Who knew? 🤣
the petrol car that I recently purchased, which runs solely on petrol is apparently not a petrol car. Who knew?
A V8 BEV😂
A V8 BEV
I used to go out with one of those, lovely bodywork, a great ride but very thirsty 🙂
And her car wasn’t bad either 😮
Please excuse spelling/typos. Apart from being a clot it turns out I had one on my cerebellum that's now causing various problems!
Do the folk who publish these number still count hybrids as EV’s, mines a hybrid and travels between 50% to 60% on electric but without petrol it can go nowhere so I call it a petrol car with good MPG.
Do the folk who publish these number still count hybrids as EV’s, mines a hybrid and travels between 50% to 60% on electric but without petrol it can go nowhere so I call it a petrol car with good MPG.
A bit of old school jiggery pokery going on, putting a dash of everything in one pot, hoping no one will notice😂
Do the folk who publish these number still count hybrids as EV’s, mines a hybrid and travels between 50% to 60% on electric but without petrol it can go nowhere so I call it a petrol car with good MPG.
SMMT (the U.K. body that supplies U.K. stats) classifies cars as petrol, diesel, HEV, PHEV and BEV – so proper hybrid cars, even though as you say they also run on petrol, don’t count within the ‘petrol’ figures. Even with them not counted, petrol cars outsold BEVs in May by 50%.
Rather bizarrely, the European body that Carbon Neutral quote, don’t count ‘mild hybrid’ petrol cars as petrol cars, even though most petrol cars now have a mild hybrid system that covers things like start/stop, but doesn’t drive the car. Utterly daft, but that’s where the confusion arose!
BEVs are obviously seeing the biggest percentage growth, as they are coming from a lower base, but it will probably be another year or so until they start to outsell pure petrol (inc mild hybrid) cars, and a few more years until they outsell all the non-BEV cars combined, although if fuel prices remain high (likely, given Trumps disastrous actions in Iran, which have no obvious resolution) it may occur a bit quicker.
No, you are incorrrect, the site is pulling data from 2 bodies:
European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA)
SMMT Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders
The difference between the bodesi are the ACEA covers 450 million people in the EU where most European Vehicle manfucturing exists.
The SMMT is a group of UK garages from a UK population of 60 million. The members typically have names for their businesses, Arnold Clark, Arthur Daily, Sytner, Marshalls, etc.
They both count their figures slightly different, but the SMMT carries no weight in the EU. the ACEA carries a lot of weight.
It is the EU that governs where UK political and industrial policies are managed.
By providing a comprehensive overview of regulations and promoting, the guide, the ACEA can facilitate a globally competitive European automotive industry. It helps industry players understand and comply with the diverse regulatory requirements, promoting efficiency and reducing compliance costs. Moreover, policymakers can benefit from the guide by gaining insights into the existing regulatory framework and identifying areas where smarter regulation can be implemented.
In conclusion, the Automotive Regulatory Guide by ACEA serves as a crucial resource for navigating the complex regulatory landscape of the European automotive industry.
Countries have to abide by these rules if exporting cars, parts into europe or since Brexit the EU. External countries do not have to abide by these rules and many don’t in domestic markets, for example the UK since brexit do not follow all these rules for “GB” destined cars, which follow a different Type approval, but core rules are basically followed in a countries own law around the world to simplify the import and export market. of vehicles, parts and safety regulations.
The SMMT is a society, which publishes an accurate account of types of vehicles sold in different categories petrol & 48v MHEV petrol, Diesel & 48V MHEV diesel, Full Hybrid, Plug in Hybrid and BEV. By doing this, it gives an accurate description of vehicle trend and how their market share alters each month/year.
So the SMMT follows manufacturer discriptors, which is the same across europe, as it is the world, for example BMW classes the X5 M60i V8 mild hybrid as a petrol car, not a BEV, Just like BMW, Mercedes & VW call a hybris an hybrid and just like every manufacturer calls a PHEV a plug in hybrid and not a BEV. An EV sits in a different category of its own because it has no ICE!
When I saw the title I could have seen pretty much this conversation without opening the thread.
Reality is that sales of pure EVs (BEV) has increased while the number of vehicles including a traction battery (BEV, PHEV, plus the multitude of hybrid vehicles) is getting closer to, if not more than, petrol cars at a single point in time while petrol prices are pushing the tolerances of people capable of changing their cars.
However, it’s clear that BEV adoption is nowhere near the point where anyone could call it dominant. It is enjoying a steady increase, helped by fuel prices and offers from manufacturers and dealers. It’s possible that this could continue, with Trump still causing problems in the Strait of Hormuz there’s every chance that fuel prices could easily increase in the near future. There’s also a truth that the vast majority of people who own a BEV continue with them in future purchases, with retention statistics as high as 99% it’s logical that BEV ownership in new car buyers will continue to creep upwards.
However, to be an ongoing and genuine prospect, the used market needs to thrive. There’s a lot than can be done to encourage this section of the market that isn’t happening right now. Dealerships, manufacturers and, to some extent, the government are mostly concerned with new car sales. However, if myths continue that all BEVs are good for a day longer than warranty, after which it’ll cease up like a cheap washing machine, then used sales will always be a problem. It’s in the interests of both new car buyers and finance companies that used car buyers have confidence fence that the car is good for at least 3 years beyond the 3 years of typical first ownership.
The problem comes with experience. The current range of decade old BEVs are Nissan LEAFs, Renault Zoes (some with a leased battery), expensive Teslas and early Ioniqs and Kona/Nero. While the KIA/Hyundai cars were good, the Tesla’s were poorly built and expensive to repair and the Nissans were built without thermal protection and those batteries that started off rather small lost vast amounts of range. Some are only good now to get to the shops and back, even if they started out at 80 miles worth.
In 7 years time, the same aged cars will be Model 3s, Polestars, the newer Hyundais, KIAs, the better Nissans, etc., all with batteries capable when new of 200+ miles and with both thermal and software capacity protection. These batteries should be good for 70% of range at a decade, that’s still over 200 miles for the likes of the Enyaq, Ioniq 5, Ariya and the ID4/5s.
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
In 10 years time CATL will have the market sown up supplying solid state replacement batteries for todays ioniq5, Enyaq and ariyas. The old batteries we have in our cars today, will be replaced to remove thermal runaway problems.
When I saw the title I could have seen pretty much this conversation without opening the thread.
Bet you didn’t expect to see me in it 😂🤣😂
On a serious note, this type of “data” led topic reminds me very much of the press and their doom loop weather reports using WX charts rather than the traditional we’ll live to see another day Met / Meta type forcasts.
Two points from me:
1. As far as I know, there’s no technology to cheaply (in terms of kilojoules) to dispose of those batteries. So at some point the pollution and energy consumption caused by the BEV will exceed their benefits (unless of course cheap disposal solution will be found).
2. The recent scaling back on ZEV targets will push up the prices for the EVs as there’s no urgency to sell them as originally thought.
Hence my assumption we will see later this year a significant increase in ratio in favour of ICE.
May be even during 1st half of next year.
Sent from a mobile device.
Apologies for briefness and spelling mistakes.Motability Skoda Enyaq SportLine 85x April 2024 (unhappy customer - Ombudsman pending)
Motability Mazda CX-60 PHEV July 2023 (unhappy customer - early termination on mechanical grounds)
Motability VW Touran Family Pack May 2019 (happy customer)Incorrect KD.
Because Lithium is so valuable and Ex-Tesla Director JB Straubel, the Chief Technical Officer, left the company and started his own Lithium battery recycling company
called Redwood Materials and is the largest battery recycling company in North America.
Redwood Materials is pulling the really expensive and rare elements from old lithium batteries lithium, nickel, cobalt, and copper. Quite lucrative.
You really should do your research.
The article – UK sales of EV,s just overtook petrol cars is fact. The decline of consumer ICE vehicle manufacturing is absolute.
The momentum when one technology overtakes another was crossed 2 years ago, it is unstoppable..
There is no scaling back on ZEV, it still becomes law in 4 years time.
The recent events in the strait of hormuz has only accelarated ZEV implementation
The two major process for recycling Lithium ION batteries currently adopted by industry leaders are pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processes, requirng substantial energy input.
The Process involves, collection and storage of EOL batteries which are then dischargedand shredded to produce what they call “black mass” followed by one of two main processes-
Pyrometallurgy involves high-temperature smelting, which consumes large amounts of energy and increases the carbon footprint OR Hydrometallurgy relies on strong acids and reagents, generating hazardous waste and further energy costs.
Moving on:
There has always been highs and lows in the oil prices and sometimes strikes for as long as I remember. The closure of the strait caused spikes in prices, but there was never a question of oil supplies stopping, because of the diverse supply lines europe, the west have with countries like Africa who are now main players i.e Nigeria’s Dangote refinery kept europe topped up with jet fuel…
Airlines such as O’Leary’s Ryanair played the scaremongering card “were not going to have enough fuel” only for the industry to make a creaching U Turn after single handedly coming that close to ruining the industries summer holiday season! You are allways going to get scaremongers, but none of that really matters, as oil will flow albeit at price peaks.
What’s often over looked is the carbon energy intense mining industry and the reliance of oil for energy and machinery, refining of that oil spiked to $90–$140 per barrel, impacting the cost of REE extraction, severely impacting import reliant ecomomies such as europe.
Infact this disruption has translated into higher EV battery manufacturing costs. A quick analysis of cell manufacturing operations in Germany by S&P Global Mobility indicates that gas-fired energy generation costs have risen by nearly 50%. For a prismatic NCM811/Gr cell ontop of the higher costs of materials and import transport costs.
Above all, what concerns me most is how protective some of the EV camp can be, its becoming a borderline cult, yet it wasn’t that long ago we all drove the same thing and there was never this level of protectionism between petrol and diesel drivers. Also if the ACEA say Hybrids fall in the EV camp and you agree, why not have an hybrid instead? Thought Not!
Drive what you want and enjoy it!
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