Electric vehicle (EV) sales are continuing to grow rapidly in the UK, with new data showing a 28% increase compared to the same time last year. In May alone, 31,519 new EVs were registered—making up nearly 22% of all new car sales.
According to research from New AutoMotive, over 175,000 new EVs have been sold so far this year, a 29% rise compared to 2024. It’s a clear sign that more drivers are choosing to go electric.
Other electric vehicles are also seeing strong growth. Sales of electric vans are up 47.3%, electric motorbikes rose by 10.1%, and electric HGVs increased by 6.7%.
Meanwhile, petrol car sales are falling faster than expected—down 23.6% in May. Diesel sales also dipped by 1.9%.
New AutoMotive says Tesla could soon be overtaken in UK EV sales by BMW or Volkswagen—possibly as early as next month.
Ben Nelmes, CEO of New AutoMotive, said that consumer demand for zero-emission vehicles is rising quickly. He credits the UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate for helping drive this growth, saying:
“The strong growth in the electric van sector is especially promising. Businesses are saving money on running costs and cutting emissions at the same time.”
This shift is seen as essential for the UK’s net zero goals and for improving air quality nationwide.
Several brands, including Peugeot, Skoda, Ford, BYD, Renault, Polestar, Cupra, and Mini, have doubled their EV sales in the past year.
Fiona Howarth, CEO of Octopus Electric Vehicles, added:
“We’re seeing more affordable EV models launch every month. This is giving drivers more choice and helping more people make the switch to clean, cost-effective transport.”
Currently, Tesla, BYD, Volkswagen, Geely, and BMW lead the market in ZEV credit surplus, meaning EVs make up a large share of their UK sales.
On the other hand, Nissan, Stellantis, Toyota, Tata, Mazda, and Hyundai are falling behind and face the largest credit shortfalls.
After recent changes by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, manufacturers now face a £12,000 fine (reduced from £15,000) for every vehicle they miss under the ZEV mandate target.
New AutoMotive expects EV sales to climb even further this year as manufacturers adjust to avoid penalties.
Quentin Willson, founder of FairCharge, called the UK a leader in EV adoption across Europe but urged the government to provide more support for drivers.
Dan Caesar, CEO of EVUK, echoed this, saying:
“The UK led the European market for battery EVs in 2024, but we can’t afford to slow down. Car makers are looking for clear long-term strategies to keep this momentum going.”
