Electric car sales hit record high in September

Electrical automobile (EV) gross sales within the UK hit a file excessive final month, based on the most recent trade figures. Gross sales of pure battery electrical automobiles (BEV) grew by nearly a 3rd to 72,779 in September, based on the Society of Motor Producers (SMMT), whereas gross sales of plug-in hybrid vehicles grew even quicker. It means gross sales of absolutely electrical or hybrid automobiles made up greater than half of all new automobile registrations within the UK final month.The SMMT stated gross sales have been pushed by carmakers providing reductions, a bigger alternative of fashions, and the introduction of the federal government’s grant scheme.Whereas registrations of BEVs rose final month, the overwhelming majority – 71.4% – have been purchased by companies or for use in fleets.Nonetheless, the variety of personal consumers of absolutely electrical vehicles has risen prior to now 12 months, and the SMMT stated zero-emission automobiles now accounted for multiple in 5 (22.1%) new vehicles registered up to now in 2025.SMMT chief government Mike Hawes stated electrified automobiles have been “powering market progress after a sluggish summer time”.Business funding in electrical automobiles was “paying off”, he stated, regardless of client demand “trailing ambition”.Mr Hawes added the federal government’s electrical automobile grant scheme, during which eligible automobiles get a reduction of as much as £3,750 as a part of efforts to encourage drivers to maneuver away from petrol and diesel automobiles, would assist “break down one of many boundaries” holding again individuals making the swap.Total, the variety of new automobile registrations – 312,887 – marked one of the best performing September since 2020, which regardless of the Covid lockdown restrictions, stays one of the best up to now this decade, based on the SMMT.The robust month comes because the UK automobile trade navigates the financial impression of US tariffs and Jaguar Land Rover’s shutdown of manufacturing resulting from a serious cyber-attack.The Kia Sportage, Ford Puma and Nissan Qashqai have been the best-selling vehicles in September, however two Chinese language fashions together with the Jaecoo 7 and BYD Seal U have been within the prime 10.The federal government stated greater than 20,000 individuals had benefited from EV grants so far, which apply to fashions from a number of well-known manufacturers comparable to Ford, Toyota, Vauxhall and Citroen. Beneath the scheme, the low cost applies to new eligible automobile fashions costing as much as £37,000, with probably the most environmentally pleasant ones seeing the largest reductions. Some 36 fashions have been cleared for reductions of at the very least £1,500.Ian Plummer, Autotrader’s chief industrial officer, stated the grant scheme had given a “actual raise to the market”.”Since July, enquiries for brand spanking new electrical automobiles on Autotrader are up by nearly 50%. For fashions eligible for the grant, curiosity has greater than doubled.”