Electric car registrations in October reached their highest share of total UK sales this year, at almost 33%, as the overall market continued to grow.
The Skoda Enyaq was the biggest electric seller in the month, followed by the Mini Countryman, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The Jaecoo 7 was the UK’s top seller for the second consecutive month in October, with 3412 sales, closely followed the Ford Puma, which remains the UK’s overall best-seller for the year.
Volkswagen remained the UK’s favourite brand, with a market share of 9.0% in the month, while BMW overtook Audi for second spot with a 5.6% share. Sales overall grew 5.4% to 152,730.
Chinese brands again shone in October, but their combined market share of 21.3% was lower than for the month of September, when it stood at a record 23.3%.
MG remained the leading Chinese brand in the UK, recording an 85% increase in sales over the same month last year, landing it in fourth spot ahead of Kia and Skoda. Jaecoo was ninth and BYD 10th.
Strong EV sales in October came without the might of Tesla, which recorded just 282 registrations after its September push, when it topped electric sales in the country.
Instead Kia was the number-one EV seller, according to data from independent transport researcher New AutoMotive.
The EV share for the month came within a whisker of reaching the government’s mandated figure of 33% for the year.
The EV share has steadily risen throughout 2026 as buyers have reacted to the rising fuel prices caused by the Iran war, plus the increased availability of more affordable EVs.
The overall EV share for the year stands at 30.4%, although flexibilities in the ZEV mandate system means car makers need to reach only 24.6%, according to calculations by New AutoMotive.
Car makers are hopeful that the government’s review of the ZEV mandate will lower the rising EV sales targets, which are currently set to hit 80% by 2030.
The rise of EVs and plug-in hybrids has bitten into demand for petrol cars, which accounted for 37% of sales, down from 41% same month the year before.
Diesel meanwhile dropped to a new low of 3.8%, recording just 5811 sales in October.
Hybrids also suffered after sales dropped 5% in the month. PHEVs meanwhile grew by 30%, overtaking hybrids with a 15% share versus a 12% share.
