Battery-electric vehicle registrations in the UK continued to accelerate in May, with BEV volumes rising by 34.2% year-on-year to achieve a market share of 27.3%.
According to new figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the result marks the highest monthly BEV share recorded so far in 2026. Overall, the UK new car market grew by 7.1% to 160,662 units in May, recording its strongest performance for the month since 2019. The SMMT attributed much of the growth to increasing consumer demand, expanding model availability and aggressive manufacturer incentives, particularly in the electric vehicle segment.
According to the SMMT, the number of available BEV products increased by 25.6% year-to-date. A total of 31 new battery-electric models have received registrations since the beginning of 2026. In May alone, the UK market saw a net increase of 21 additional vehicle models compared to the same month last year. The trade association said that growing model choice and sustained discounting continue to drive electric vehicle uptake. Government support measures, including the Electric Car Grant, also contributed to rising demand.
EV market remains below mandated targets
As always, the SMMT warned that the UK market still remains significantly behind the trajectory required under the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate. While BEVs reached a 27.3% share in May, year-to-date electric vehicle share stands at 23.9%, well below the 33% target mandated for 2026.
The organization said the widening gap between actual consumer demand and regulatory requirements is increasing pressure on manufacturers, many of which continue to subsidise EV sales through discounting and incentive programmes.
At the same time, the UK government’s seventh Carbon Budget, published this week, envisages electric vehicles accounting for 95% of new car and van sales by 2030. Carbon Budgets are five-year carbon emissions limits set by the UK Government. That ambition even exceeds the current ZEV mandate targets of 80% for cars and 70% for vans by the end of the decade. According to the SMMT, achieving such a rapid transition would require substantially higher levels of fiscal support and infrastructure investment.
“Britain’s car buyers are responding to a market offering more choice than ever, from both new and familiar brands, resulting in a robust May,” said SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes. “The EV transition is progressing, but consumer uptake still lags behind even today’s targets, let alone the ambition set out in the latest Carbon Budget.”
Read more about it here – https://www.electrive.com/2026/06/04/uk-ev-market-share-reaches-27-3-in-strongest-may-since-2019/
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