New car registrations in May surged 7.1% to 160,662 units, a seven year high, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
A resurgence in private buyers drove the increase, with registrations up 17.2% while fleet demand grew more modestly, rising 1.8% but still accounted for more than half (57.1%) of all registrations.
Registrations of petrol and diesel cars fell by -7.1% and -2.2% respectively, as electrified vehicles gained ground.
Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) uptake rose 1.8% and plug-in hybrid deliveries grew 23.9% to take an enlarged 13.8% market share. Battery electric vehicle (BEV) uptake, meanwhile, increased 34.2% to take 27.3% of the market, the highest recorded so far in 2026.
Year-to-date, BEVs account for 23.9% of the market, short of the 33% required in 2026.
Mike Hawes, SMMT CEO, said, “Britain’s car buyers are responding to a market offering more choice than ever, from both new and familiar brands, resulting in a robust May.
The EV transition is progressing, but consumer uptake still lags behind even today’s targets, let alone the ambition set out in the latest Carbon Budget.
While industry shares the long-term ambition, the pathway to Net Zero must be credible. It cannot come at the cost of lost competitiveness and deindustrialisation.
“A review of the transition is now urgent to ensure ambition matches market realities and we have a sustainable path to road transport decarbonisation.”
