November new car market struggles ahead of Budget drag on demand
Latest UK new registrations at end of November 2025
- The new car market falls by -1.6% ahead of the Budget, introducing new taxes on electric cars.
- Electrified vehicles mark third consecutive month with over 50% share, as one in four buyers goes zero emission – although BEV uptake records weakest growth in almost two years.
- Industry calls on government to rethink eVED proposals, which will undermine demand and endanger EV transition.
- Battery electric vehicle (BEV) uptake, supported by the Electric Car Grant, rose to reach 26.4% share of the market, just ahead of the 25.1% achieved in November last year. However, with volumes rising just 3.6%, this represented the weakest month for BEV growth in almost two years. 1Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) uptake rose slightly by 1.3% to comprise 13.1% of the market. The fastest growth was recorded by plug-in hybrids, up 14.8% and accounting for 11.9% of registrations.
- As a result, electrified vehicles achieved a record market share for the year of 51.4%, with petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles recording their third consecutive month as a minority of registrations. Although BEV registrations are now at record volumes – with 426,209 joining the road in the last 11 months – their 22.7% year-to-date market share still falls significantly short of the 28% annual government target.
“Even in a fragile market, zero-emission vehicle uptake continues to rise, which is exactly what we need. But the weakest growth for almost two years – ahead of the government announcing a new tax on EVs – should be seen as a wake-up call that a sustained increase in demand for EVs cannot be taken for granted. We should be taking every opportunity to encourage drivers to make the switch, not punishing them for doing so, else the ambitions of government and industry will be thwarted.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive
Statistics and commentary from SMMT
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