More EVs than ever as vehicles on the road hits record high

The number of vehicles on UK roads reached a record 42.55 million in 2025, according to new SMMT Motorparc data, with electrification continuing to reshape the fleet mix.

Total volumes rose by 1.4% year on year, with cars, vans and trucks all increasing. Within that, zero emission vehicles now account for one in 22 vehicles on the road, while one in nine has some form of electrification.

Battery electric growth remains the standout. There are now 1.79 million EVs in use, up 34.7% year on year, alongside more than 100,000 electric vans for the first time. This contributed to a 2.9% reduction in average car CO2 emissions.

However, the overall parc is ageing. The average car is now 9.7 years old, up from 9.5, which risks slowing emissions improvements despite rising EV adoption.

Fleet influence is clear in the data. While just 10.4% of all cars are company registered, more than 55% of zero emission vehicles sit within fleets, underlining their role in driving uptake.

Superminis remain the dominant segment, with models like the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa continuing to lead overall volumes.

For fleets, the picture is mixed. EV adoption is accelerating, but an ageing parc and growing vehicle numbers mean the transition is still uneven. View the full data set here.

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