March was best month ever for new EV registrations, but carmakers call for reform of ZEV Mandate targets

SMMT: New car registrations rise 6.6% during biggest market month of automotive year

March saw electric vehicles increase their share of new sales to over 24%, but the automotive sector wants the UK government to rethink its Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate as a failure to reach its targets will lead to punitive sanctions.

The UK new car market grew by 6.6% in March, typically the busiest month of the year, with 380,627 new vehicles registered, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The performance marks the best March – and best month overall – since 2019.

Growth was driven primarily by private demand, with retail registrations rising 10.1% to 162,470 units. Fleet registrations increased 3.5% to 208,853 units, while the smaller business sector grew 18.8% to 9,304 units.

March was also the best month on record for electrified vehicle volumes, accounting for 196,059 registrations, underlining the impact of manufacturers’ investment in road transport decarbonisation. 

Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) registrations rose 46.9% to take a 13.0% market share, while hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) increased 7.3% to take 15.8% of the market.
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) reached a new record, up 24.2%, to 86,120 registrations in the month. However, with a market share of only 22.6% for the month, and 22.4% year to date, uptake is now even further adrift of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate target, which demands 33% for 2026.

Despite rising EV volumes, conditions have diverged sharply from those assumed when the mandate was set, says the SMMT. At the start of 2026, battery costs were more than 30% higher than expected and industrial energy prices around 80% above 2021 levels, while public charging can cost over 140% more than five years ago.

The SMMT says future costs and, therefore, demand are even more uncertain given the Iran crisis, which may spark interest in EVs but risks pushing up energy and supply chain costs, increasing the cost of living and undermining consumer confidence.

While government has acknowledged these pressures – and sought to support the market, most notably through the introduction of the Electric Car Grant – the SMMT says manufacturers are still forced to shoulder unsustainable costs to comply with the regulation when natural demand lags ambition. 

The automotive industry body says the case for a rapid review of the transition have been given added urgency by geopolitical events. While other major international markets are revising their transition plans to reflect geopolitical and market realities, delays to a review of the UK transition will put the country in an uncompetitive position, undermining consumer choice, investment and, ultimately, the pace of decarbonisation.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “The strongest new car market since 2019, with the highest ever volume of EV registrations, is a boost to the industry and the economy. However, the headlines belie the costs incurred and the challenges involved. Much of March’s performance will be from orders placed before the start of the Iran conflict, which threatens to raise the cost of living, undermining consumer confidence. Against this backdrop, and with the EV market falling further away from mandated levels despite record levels of incentives, an urgent review of the transition is required to secure a sustainable market, economic growth and the UK’s net zero ambitions.”

The National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers across the UK, supports the SMMT’s call for a review of the ZEV Mandate. Sue Robinson, the NFDA’s chief executive, said: “The March plate change month is an important one in the industry calendar, it is therefore positive that registrations rose by 6.6%.”

“Battery electric vehicles continued to strengthen their position, with BEV registrations having a record month, up 24.2% in March, accounting for 22.6% of the market. We are seeing some indication that the war in Iran has driven consumer demand for BEV’s.”

“Fleet registrations are up 3.5% in March. Meanwhile, private demand, strengthened by 10.1%. The sector continues to face strong headwinds including the war in Iran which is likely to disrupt supply chains globally and increase the cost of living for the UK consumer.

“NFDA will continue to lobby on behalf of its members addressing the key challenges, including policy clarity, consumer confidence and the pace of the transition to zero-emission vehicles.”