UK new-car registrations rise in October as electric cars take 32% of the market

Britain’s new-car market grew by 5.4% in October, with 152,730 registrations, as battery-electric cars accounted for 32% of the month’s total, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The industry body’s 5 November figures (source) put battery-electric registrations at 48,858, up 32.7% on October 2025. Plug-in hybrids also increased, to 22,898. Petrol and diesel registrations fell compared with the same month a year earlier.

One month is not the whole year

October’s electric share was the highest of 2026 so far, SMMT said. Across the first ten months, however, battery-electric cars represented 26.6% of registrations: 503,805 vehicles out of 1.892 million. A monthly share and a year-to-date share measure different periods and should not be used interchangeably.

Fleet registrations accounted for 89,985 cars in October, or 58.9% of the market. Private registrations rose 4.1% to 58,229. These are registrations, not a direct count of cars bought by individual households; fleet channels include vehicles used by organisations and leasing customers.

What the model rankings show

JAECOO 7 led the overall October model table with 3,412 registrations, ahead of the Ford Puma on 3,369. The Puma remained the year-to-date leader, with 46,295 registrations against 42,885 for the JAECOO 7. Monthly leadership does not make the JAECOO the year-to-date leader.

SMMT says manufacturers have spent billions on discounts, low and 0% finance, deposit contributions and subsidised charging to drive sales beyond underlying demand, which it says erodes manufacturer profitability and lowers trade-in values for owners. It is calling for changes to the zero-emission vehicle mandate, forecasting a 27.2% BEV share for 2026 against a 33% target, with the gap widening to 14.5 percentage points by 2028. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said higher targets may force supply but do not create demand. That is the trade body’s policy position, and a registration count alone cannot tell a buyer which powertrain suits their circumstances.

For drivers comparing cars, the figures offer market context rather than a recommendation. Check the actual purchase price, insurance, expected mileage and charging access alongside any headline offer.

About The Author