UK Electric Vehicle Market Share February 2026 Falls Despite Rising Car Registrations

The United Kingdom automotive market recorded strong growth in February as total new vehicle registrations increased by 7.2% year-on-year. However, the UK electric vehicle market share February 2026 slipped for the second consecutive month despite the broader recovery in overall demand. According to industry data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), 90,100 vehicles were registered during the month, marking the highest February registration level since 2004. While electric vehicle volumes rose slightly, their share of the overall market declined compared with the same period last year.

Electric Vehicle Market Performance

Battery electric vehicle registrations increased by 2.8% year-on-year to reach 21,840 units in February. Despite this growth in absolute volume, the share of EVs in total registrations dropped to 24.2%, compared with 25.3% recorded in February of the previous year. Year-to-date electric vehicle penetration currently stands at 22.0%, significantly below the 33% market share target set for the end of the year under national zero-emission vehicle policy goals. Industry analysts view March as a critical period that could determine whether EV adoption regains momentum across the United Kingdom market.

Powertrain Trends Across the Market

Alternative powertrains displayed mixed performance across the passenger car segment. Plug-in hybrid vehicles experienced the strongest growth, with registrations increasing by 43.5% and capturing an 11.6% share of the market. Conventional hybrid vehicles also saw moderate expansion, rising 3.3% to account for 13.1% of total registrations. Petrol vehicles continued to dominate the market with a 46.5% share, although their relative market presence declined slightly. Meanwhile, diesel registrations continued their long-term contraction, falling 3.8% and representing only 4.5% of overall vehicle sales.

Fleet and Retail Demand Patterns

Demand growth in February was largely driven by private retail buyers, where registrations increased by 17.6% to reach 35,227 vehicles. Fleet demand expanded modestly with a 1.8% increase, but fleets remained the largest contributor to overall registrations, accounting for 59.4% of total sales. In contrast, the business segment recorded a decline of 12.7%. Industry stakeholders believe the earlier surge in EV demand during early 2025—when buyers moved purchases forward ahead of new tax rules—may have temporarily influenced current market dynamics and contributed to the recent fluctuation in the UK electric vehicle market share February 2026.