A sharp rise in electric vehicle sales drove a 13.7% increase in new car sales in September, according to new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
New car sales rose to 312,891 registrations, making it the strongest September performance since 2020.
Growth was driven by all sectors, with fleet volumes up 16.9% to reach 174,336 units, private consumer demand up 8.9% to 131,003 units, and business registrations increasing 28.6% to reach 7,552 deliveries.
Meanwhile, 50.8% of all new vehicles registered were electrified, with plug-in hybrids rising 56.4% to claim a 12.2% market share and hybrid electric vehicles accounting for 15.3% of deliveries.
Pure electric vehicles increased by 29.1% to 72,779, which represented 23.3% of the market. 
Zero emission vehicles
Year-to-date, new car sales are up 4.2%, while zero emission vehicles have comprised more than one in five (22.1%) new cars registered so far in 2025.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said:
“Electrified vehicles are powering market growth after a sluggish summer, and with record ZEV uptake, massive industry investment is paying off, despite demand still trailing ambition.
“Electrified vehicles are powering market growth after a sluggish summer, and with record ZEV uptake, massive industry investment is paying off, despite demand still trailing ambition.
“The Electric Car Grant will help to break down one of the barriers holding back more drivers from making the switch – and tackling remaining roadblocks, by unlocking infrastructure investment and driving down energy costs, will be crucial to the success of the industry and the environmental goals we share.”
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