In short: 99,201 new battery electric cars (BEVs) were registered in the UK in September 2026, the highest monthly total on record, according to final figures the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) published on 5 October 2026. BEVs took 28.3% of new car registrations, up from 23.3% a year earlier. Over the first nine months of 2026, the BEV share was 26.2%, below the 33% headline target for this year. The government’s consultation on the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate closes at 11:59pm on Friday 23 October 2026.
The September figures
September’s number plate change makes it a big month for new cars: SMMT says it typically accounts for around one in seven annual registrations. Its final September figures, published on 5 October 2026 and updating preliminary figures from 2 October, show:
- 350,536 new cars registered, up 12.0% on September 2025 and the strongest September since 2017.
- 99,201 battery electric cars, up 36.3% from 72,779 a year earlier. SMMT calls that “almost five new BEVs registered every minute”.
- 28.3% BEV market share, up five percentage points from 23.3%.
- 17.0% for plug-in hybrids, a record share, with 59,571 registered. Full hybrids fell 4.3% to a 13.1% share.
SMMT credits greater model choice, manufacturer discounts and the government’s Electric Car Grant. It says 178 battery electric models are now on sale in the UK.
A record in volume, not in share
September beat every previous month for the number of new electric cars, but not for share of the market. In August, a much quieter month, BEVs took 29.8% of registrations (28,063 cars), according to SMMT’s August figures published on 4 September 2026. SMMT put that partly down to low overall volumes, which “amplify percentage shifts”.
The best-selling electric cars in September
Two Teslas led SMMT’s top 10 battery electric models.
| Rank | Model | Registrations, September 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tesla Model 3 | 9,929 |
| 2 | Tesla Model Y | 5,946 |
| 3 | BYD Sealion 7 | 3,191 |
| 4 | BYD Seal | 3,184 |
| 5 | Kia EV3 | 3,026 |
| 6 | Skoda Enyaq | 2,214 |
| 7 | Volvo EX30 | 1,961 |
| 8 | Mercedes CLA | 1,921 |
| 9 | Skoda Elroq | 1,897 |
| 10 | Leapmotor B10 | 1,883 |
Source: SMMT, published 5 October 2026.
Why the 33% target is still out of reach
The ZEV mandate requires a rising share of each carmaker’s new car sales to be zero emission: 33% in 2026, rising to 80% in 2030. From January to September, 454,947 new BEVs were registered, 26.2% of the market, according to SMMT. It says that is below both this year’s 33% and last year’s 28% target.
SMMT says that, based on an industry outlook for a 2.183 million car market in 2026, a 33% share “would require an additional 265,000 new BEV registrations in the final quarter alone”.
That doesn’t mean carmakers are automatically breaking the rules. The mandate lets them bank, borrow and trade allowances, and count CO2 savings on their petrol and diesel cars towards it, so the headline figure doesn’t have to come from electric sales alone. A manufacturer that still falls short after using these must make a compliance payment, which the government values at £12,000 per car.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes called the result “a major achievement”, but added that “uptake remains behind mandated targets and, whilst flexibilities help, the UK still has the world’s toughest targets and highest energy costs.”
The mandate review closes on 23 October
The Department for Transport opened a review of the ZEV mandate on 14 August 2026. GOV.UK says it closes at 11:59pm on 23 October 2026. Responses can be made online, by email or by post.
The consultation document asks for views on the yearly targets, the flexibilities and compliance payments, and sets out four alternative target paths, including one that would lower the 2030 car target from 80% to 70%. The government says these are initial proposals and depend on the responses. It also says it will not change the end dates: no new purely petrol or diesel cars from 2030, and all new cars and vans zero emission from 2035. The government has committed to reviewing the rules by early 2027, but hasn’t set a date for its response.
What it means if you’re buying
- Nothing changes for drivers today. The mandate sets targets for carmakers, not buyers, and doesn’t affect used cars or cars you already own.
- Choice is wider than ever. SMMT counts 178 battery electric models on sale and says manufacturers are offering substantial discounts.
- The rules could change. We’ll report the government’s response to the review when it’s published. For the basics, see our guide to whether electric cars are worth it and the rest of our electric car guides.
How many electric cars were sold in the UK in September 2026?
SMMT recorded 99,201 new battery electric car registrations, a monthly record and 28.3% of the 350,536 new cars registered. It published the final figures on 5 October 2026.
What was the best-selling electric car in September 2026?
The Tesla Model 3, with 9,929 registrations, followed by the Tesla Model Y with 5,946, according to SMMT.
Sources
- Record electric car market powers bumper September, SMMT, 5 October 2026
- EVs lift August new car market but September is key test, SMMT, 4 September 2026
- Zero emission vehicle mandate review, Department for Transport, 14 August 2026
- Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate Review consultation document, Department for Transport, August 2026
Last checked: 19 October 2026
Image credit: J.Hannan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped.
