Electric cars captured 25.3% of all new car registrations in February 2025, with sales surging 41.7% even as the overall market declined for the fifth straight month.
According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), EV registrations defied the broader market’s 1% drop during what is typically the quietest sales month of the year. This represents a significant jump from the 17.7% market share EVs held in February 2024.
This growth trend is expected to accelerate in March as buyers rush to secure new ’25 plates and avoid the upcoming Expensive Car Supplement.
The ECS, taking effect April 1st, will add £2,125 to the cost of EVs priced above £40,000 over six years.
Manufacturers have already invested more than £4.5 billion in discounts on EVs over the past year alone. Volkswagen and Renault have offered substantial price cuts on new electric vehicles in the UK — on top of billions already spent developing these vehicles.
The SMMT called this level of financial loss “unsustainable” and urged changes to the ZEV mandate. They recommend greater market flexibility, incentives for private purchases, and faster charging infrastructure deployment.
Under current ZEV mandate rules, carmakers must ensure 22% of their sales are zero-emission vehicles in 2024, rising to 28% in 2025. This requirement increases to 80% for cars and 70% for vans by 2030, before reaching 100% by 2035.
“Although February’s figures show a subdued overall market, the good news is that electric car uptake is increasing, albeit at huge cost to manufacturers in terms of market support,” said SMMT chief executive, Mike Hawes. “It is always dangerous, however, to draw conclusions from a single month, especially one as small and volatile as February.”
Hawes added: “With the all-important March number plate change now upon us, and tax changes taking effect in April that will, perversely, dissuade EV purchases, we expect significant demand for these new products next month – but, long term, EV consumers need carrots, not ever more sticks.”
Vicky Read, ChargeUK CEO, reinforced this perspective, noting the continued growth in UK electric vehicle sales.
“ChargeUK members are already investing billions to ensure charging is installed ahead of demand for the drivers that made the switch in February, and for the millions more who will make the switch in the coming years,” Read said.
She emphasized the need for supportive policies to maintain infrastructure momentum. “We need a supportive policy environment to ensure that we can keep rolling out the affordable charging that car manufacturers need to sell EVs. Above all else this means a strong ZEV mandate, with any weakening of sales quotas leading to a vicious circle of reduced infrastructure investment, fewer, more expensive chargers and lower demand for EVs.”
