Electric vehicles continued to gain ground in April even as overall new car registrations slumped 14.3% year-on-year following a strong March distorted by tax changes.
According to New AutoMotive’s latest Electric Car Count, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) secured a 20.4% market share – up from 16.7% a year earlier – with 24,043 new electric cars hitting UK roads.
While these figures reflect resilience in the EV segment, they come amid a backdrop of wider industry concern about the pace of consumer adoption and manufacturers’ ability to meet the government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate.
BEV registrations are now up 31% year-to-date, but are now at 20.7% market share year-to-date, which is pacing behind the 28% ZEV target for this year.
Petrol and diesel declines vs. electric van surge
Petrol and diesel models saw steep double-digit declines in April with registrations falling 38.6% and 27.0% respectively
In contrast, the van sector delivered standout performance: electric van registrations more than doubled, up 102.6% year-on-year, even as the broader van market contracted by nearly 15%. BEVs now account for 7.7% market share for all new van registrations for models under 3.5t.
New AutoMotive said the increase in electric van sales seems driven largely by business buyers responding to total cost of ownership advantages, tax incentives and the extension of the plug-in van grant.
Diesel van sales, by contrast, plummeted 24.5% – highlighting shifting priorities in fleet procurement.
Mandate momentum: is the UK on track?
Ben Nelmes, chief executive of New AutoMotive, beleives that the April results show evidence that “drivers are choosing electric for the savings and the drive” despite cost-of-living pressures and broader market weakness.
He also pointed to the strong electric van performance as evidence that the ZEV mandate is beginning to influence purchasing decisions in the commercial sector.
While BEVs now account for one in five new car sales, the SMMT has expressed concern that the current pace of consumer adoption may not keep up with regulatory requirements.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Another month of growth for electric vehicle registrations is good news, even if demand remains well below ambition.
“Recent Government adjustments to flexibilities and compliance within the ZEV Mandate are welcome and an important first step in relieving some of the pressure on the market and manufacturers.
“However, EV uptake is still being heavily and unsustainably subsidised by the industry which is why a compelling package of measures from Government is essential if consumers are going to make the switch.”
EV advocate Quentin Willson believes this week’s registration data from the SMMT demonstrates that “consumers are listening to a different narrative” than recent political scepticism surrounding net-zero initiatives.
Dan Caesar, chief executive of Electric Vehicles UK, added that falling BEV running costs and the growing availability of used BEVs and LCVs are expanding the appeal of electric vehicles beyond the early adopters.
As the second half of 2025 approaches, a wave of new, lower-cost BEVs is expected to enter the UK market.
The industry will be watching closely to see if this surge in new models can help accelerate adoption in a meaningful, sustainable way and bring the sector closer to meeting ZEV compliance targets.