February new car sales volume highest in 22 years, but BEV sales disappoint
5 March 2026 
In what is traditionally the lowest volume month of the year, with car buyers holding out for the March plate change, the latest figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show a 7.2% rise in new car registrations in February, reaching 90,100. This represents the highest February volume in 22 years.
The demand was driven by private retail registrations, up 17.6% to 35,227 units, with fleet uptake growing by 1.8%. The lower-volume business segment declined by -12.7%. Fleets remained the largest source of new car registrations, accounting for 59.4% of the market.
Despite the second consecutive month of year-on-year decline in Battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales – reflecting in part a strong start to 2025, when new BEV buyers sought to avoid April’s introduction of new tax rates – uptake rose 2.8% to 21,840 units, representing 24.2% of the market (compared to 25.3 in 2025).
Plug-in hybrids attracted the largest growth in demand, up 43.5% to secure an 11.6% market share, while hybrid electric registrations rose 3.3% to a 13.1% share. Petrol demand also grew, by 5.2%, but share slipped to 46.5% (from 47.4% in 2025), while diesel volumes continued to decline, down 3.8% compared to 2025, with just a 4.5% share of the total market.
The year-to-date BEV market share at 22.0% is just two-thirds of the 33% share mandated for 2026. So, March is set to be a pivotal month, with buyer confidence expected to weaken further amid plans to introduce a pay-per-mile tax for EVs (eVED) from 2028. And the SMMT is calling for an urgent review of the planned transition.
Commenting on the figures, Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “The UK’s new car market is continuing to recover, and EV volumes are growing too, even if market share remains disappointing. All eyes are now on ‘new plate’ March, which typically sets the tone for the year – and given sales of new pure petrol and diesel cars are currently required to end in less than four years, EV uptake must accelerate rapidly.”
While the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) was encouraged by the resilience shown in the figures, its Chief Executive, Sue Robinson, also called for more to be done to drive BEV sales, commenting: “While electrified vehicles continue to gain market share, the figures also highlight that demand remains uneven between the various EV derivatives. As the industry continues its transition towards zero-emission mobility, it is essential that consumers are supported with clear policy direction and the right incentives to encourage greater uptake.”
Click here for more details on the latest SMMT figures