The UK’s electric vehicle (EV) market has powered ahead in 2025, with new figures confirming another strong year for electrification across cars and vans. From rising registrations to growing market share and a familiar name leading the charts, the momentum behind EV adoption shows no sign of slowing.
By the end of November 2025, 426,209 electric cars had been registered in the UK, representing a 26% increase compared to 2024. This growth has pushed electric vehicles to a 22.7% share of the total new car market, up from 18.7% last year.
EVs are now the second most popular fuel type for new cars in the UK, behind petrol (47%), highlighting just how mainstream electric motoring has become.
With the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate setting a 28% EV sales target for manufacturers in 2025, November’s figures show registrations hitting 26%, placing the industry just short of the year-end goal, but firmly on track.
Plug-in Hybrids and Electric Vans Also Accelerate
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) continue to play a growing role in the transition. In 2025 so far, PHEVs account for 11.1% of the new car market, marking a near-35% increase year-on-year.
The commercial sector is also making strides. 25,116 electric vans under 3.5 tonnes were sold by the end of November, a 45.7% increase over 2024. While diesel still dominates the van market with a 79.6% share, electric vans now hold 8.7%, signalling steady progress in fleet electrification.
How Many EVs Are on UK Roads?
There are now over 1.75 million fully electric cars on UK roads. That’s around 5.2% of the UK’s total car parc, which stands at roughly 34 million vehicles, an important milestone as EVs shift from early adoption to everyday normality.
(Source: SMMT, ZapMap)
The UK’s Most Popular Electric Cars in 2025
Tesla has once again retained its crown as the UK’s leading EV brand, with both the Model Y and Model 3 topping the registration charts, which matches the EV buying data at our auctions. According to full-year data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Tesla’s lead remains significant, despite strong competition from Audi, BMW, Ford, Skoda, and others.
Top 10 Electric Cars in the UK – 2025
- Tesla Model Y – 24,298
- Tesla Model 3 – 21,188
- Audi Q4 e-tron – 14,433
- Audi Q6 e-tron – 13,148
- Ford Explorer – 12,237
- BMW i4 – 12,158
- Skoda Enyaq – 11,940
- Kia EV3 – 11,188
- Skoda Elroq – 10,713
- Volvo EX30 – 10,289
What This Means for EV Fans
With rising sales, expanding choice, and tightening emissions targets, 2025 has proven to be another landmark year for electric vehicles in the UK. As manufacturers push closer to ZEV targets and more drivers make the switch, the road ahead for EVs looks increasingly electric. ⚡🚗
