Battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales are projected to increase to 440,000 in 2025, but will once again fall short of the Government’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) target, according to new Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) analysis.
In 2024, BEVs accounted for 19.6% of the market (381,970 units), below the mandated 22% share. For 2025, the Government requires 28% of new car registrations to be zero-emission.
DriveElectric forecasts 1.84 million total new car sales in 2025, with BEVs making up 24% of the market – that’s still some way short of the target.
The SMMT data highlights the fleet market as the primary driver of EV registrations, thanks to incentives like low benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax rates. In contrast, only one in 10 private buyers chose an EV in 2024.