Overview
- SMMT data show new‑car registrations rose 11.4% in June 2026 to 213,166, the strongest June since 2019, with private purchases up 12.5% driving the recovery.
- Battery electric vehicles reached a record 30% share of June sales while full‑year to date BEV share stands at about 25%, leaving the industry short of the 33% 2026 ZEV mandate.
- The SMMT says BEV market share would need to exceed 40% through the second half of 2026 to meet the mandate without using flexibility mechanisms.
- Manufacturers have deployed more than £12 billion in discounts to boost EV uptake, a move the trade body says is eroding margins, weakening used values and straining dealer finances.
- Independent analysis estimates the UK will have roughly 171,000 public chargepoints by 2030 if current rollout continues, well below the government’s 300,000 target, which fuels industry calls for mandate reform and a clearer long‑term policy.