New car sales in the UK rose to their highest level in more than two decades in February, underlining the automotive market’s ongoing recovery. However, industry figures show that the transition to electric vehicles is losing momentum and the market share of pure electric cars is declining for the second month in a row.
More than 90,000 new vehicles were registered across the UK in February, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The figure represents the strongest February performance since 2004, reflecting improved supply chains, pent-up consumer demand and stronger dealer incentives after several years of disruption across the auto sector.
Despite the overall recovery in vehicle sales, the adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is showing signs of slowing. A total of 21,840 fully electric cars were registered during the month, a slight increase of 2.8 percent year-on-year, representing just 596 additional vehicles compared to February 2025.
However, since the overall market grew faster than electric sales, the overall share of battery-powered vehicles in new registrations fell to 24.2 percent, compared to 25.3 percent in the same month last year. The decline marks the second consecutive monthly fall in electric vehicle market share and raises questions about the pace of the UK’s transition away from petrol and diesel vehicles.
Industry leaders warn that current adoption rates are well below the target needed to meet the government’s long-term decarbonization targets for the automotive sector.
The UK’s zero-emission vehicle mandate requires manufacturers to increase the proportion of zero-emission vehicles sold each year, with the aim of around a third of new car sales being electric by the mid-2020s.
However, the EV share of 24.2 per cent in February is still well below the government’s benchmark of 33 per cent, prompting industry groups to call on ministers to rethink elements of the policy framework.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said the figures showed that while the car market was recovering strongly, the transition to electric mobility was progressing more slowly than expected.
“The UK new car market continues to recover and electric cars are also growing, although market share remains disappointing,” said Hawes.
He added that the gap between current demand and government targets suggests that policymakers need to rethink the design of the ZEV mandate and the broader incentives for consumers.
Industry analysts say several factors continue to slow the pace of electric vehicle adoption, including higher upfront vehicle costs, concerns about charging infrastructure and uncertainty about long-term operating costs.
Although battery prices have fallen in recent years, electric vehicles are still typically more expensive compared to equivalent gasoline models. For many households already under pressure from the cost of living crisis, this difference remains a major barrier to switching.
Charging infrastructure also remains unevenly distributed across the UK. While urban centers are seeing rapid growth in public charging networks, drivers in rural areas and those without access to off-street parking often face practical challenges when considering an electric vehicle.
These issues are particularly acute for renters and apartment residents who may have difficulty installing charging stations at home.
Proponents of the transition to electric mobility argue that government incentives and infrastructure investments are starting to improve the playing field for drivers thinking about switching to electric mobility.
Susan Wells, Hive’s director of electric vehicles and solar, said February’s numbers were still a positive sign for long-term adoption.
“February’s new car registrations mark a strong start to the year for electric vehicle adoption, as more motorists switch to electric vehicles and the UK increasingly focuses on sustainable travel,” she said.
She added that recent government decisions to expand electric vehicle charging subsidies could help address some of the barriers faced by motorists.
“The government’s decision to increase subsidies for electric vehicle charging points is a welcome step in the right direction, particularly for renters, homeowners and access-free households who have faced real barriers to accessing home charging.”
Expanded investment in public charging infrastructure is also expected to help boost confidence among potential electric vehicle buyers.
The overall strength of new car registrations in February reflects the overall recovery of the UK car market after several difficult years marked by pandemic disruption, semiconductor shortages and supply chain bottlenecks.
In 2020 and 2021, new vehicle registrations fell sharply as closures impacted dealerships and production output. Production restrictions continued into 2022 and 2023 as global semiconductor shortages limited the number of vehicle manufacturers that could supply them.
More stable supply chains in 2025 and early 2026 have helped the market regain momentum, allowing manufacturers to deliver long-delayed orders and increase showroom inventories.
Discounts and promotional financing offers have also helped boost demand from buyers who had delayed replacing vehicles during the previous downturn.
Despite the recent decline in electric vehicle market share, analysts generally expect electric vehicles to continue to expand their presence in the UK car market in the coming years.
Carmakers are investing billions of pounds in new electric models, while battery costs are expected to fall further as production grows globally.
At the same time, the British government plans to stop selling new gasoline and diesel cars by the end of the decade, reinforcing the long-term shift to zero-emission vehicles.
But industry leaders say that without stronger consumer incentives, improved charging infrastructure and clearer policy support, the pace of adoption could be difficult to keep up with regulatory goals.
For now, February’s figures highlight a paradox in the UK automotive sector: the car market itself is recovering strongly, but the transition to electric mobility remains slower than policymakers had hoped.
