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Key Takeaways
The electric vehicle market is experiencing unprecedented growth globally, with significant implications for consumers, manufacturers, and policymakers navigating this transformative period.
- Global EV market share reached 25% in 2025 and is projected to hit 27.5% by the end of 2026, with China leading at over 50% domestic market share.
- UK EV registrations surged to 23.4% in 2025 (473,348 units) and are forecast to reach 29% by 2026, though falling short of the 33% ZEV mandate target
- Plug-in hybrids emerged as the fastest-growing segment, increasing 33% year-on-year in Europe and offering consumers flexibility for longer journeys.
- Charging infrastructure expansion accelerated with the UK reaching 116,052 public chargers, whilst affordable models under £25,000 entered the market.
- Manufacturers face £15,000 per car fines for missing ZEV targets, creating urgency for compliance strategies and potential market consolidation.
Global EV Market Share in 2026: Current Statistics
Worldwide electric vehicle market share figures
Global electric car sales exceeded 17 million in 2024 and captured over 20% of the light-vehicle market. This represents strong momentum. The additional 3.5 million electric cars sold in 2024, compared to the previous year, exceeded the total number of electric cars sold worldwide in 2020.
Sales continued climbing in 2025 and surpassed 20 million units. The global EV market share pushed above 25%. Multiple market trackers point to approximately 27.5% electric vehicle market share in the light vehicle market for 2026. Projections show the EV market reaching 43.2% of global sales by 2030 and over 83% by 2040.
China's dominance in the global EV market
China managed to keep its lead in the electric car market. Over 11 million electric cars were sold in 2024, accounting for almost half of all car sales in the country. This figure alone exceeded total global electric car sales from just two years earlier. The result of this sustained growth means 1 in 10 cars on Chinese roads is now electric.
China's dominance intensified in 2025. EVs exceeded 50% market share for the first time and factored in two-thirds of global EV sales.
Sales reached 8.1 million battery electric vehicles plus 5.07 million plug-in hybrids.
China is projected to achieve around 60% of total car sales as electric in 2025. Incentives for replacing older vehicles and falling prices drive this growth.
China's electric car sales share could reach approximately 80% by 2030, supported by strong market momentum and competitively-priced EVs.
Europe's EV market share performance
Europe saw sales stagnate in 2024 as subsidy schemes and supportive policies waned, but the sales share remained around 20%. Stronger performance in some countries offset weaker sales in others. Battery electric vehicles reached 19% market share in 2025.
Europe recorded approximately 298,000 plug-in vehicle registrations in January 2026 and marked a 22% year-on-year increase. Battery electric vehicles factored in around 195,000 units, whilst plug-in hybrids reached approximately 102,000 units.
BEVs represented around 20% of all new passenger car registrations, up from 17% in January 2025.
Electric car sales in Europe are expected to reach a 25% sales share in 2025 and potentially approach 60% by 2030.
This builds on more than 20% year-on-year sales growth in the first quarter.
North America and other key markets
Electric car sales grew by approximately 10% year-on-year in 2024 in the United States and reached more than 1 in 10 cars sold.
Sales are projected to reach 11% of total car sales for 2025. The 2030 outlook shows a more modest trajectory. Sales share is expected to reach around 20% based on the current policy direction.
Emerging markets in Asia and Latin America are becoming new centres of growth. Electric car sales in these regions jumped by over 60% in 2024 to almost 600,000 units.
Electric car sales grew by nearly 50% in Southeast Asia and represented 9% of all car sales.
Brazil, the largest car market in Latin America, saw electric car sales more than double to 125,000 in 2024 and reached a sales share of over 6%.
UK Electric Vehicle Market Share Breakdown
Total EV registrations and market share in the UK
UK electric car registrations reached 473,348 units during 2025 and represented 23.4% of the new car market. This marked a 23.9% increase over 2024's 381,970 registrations.
Forecasts for 2026 point to around 580,000 electric car sales, which will be factored in as 29% of an expected two million total new car registrations.
Plug-in hybrids showed strong momentum and comprised 11.1% of new car sales during 2025, up nearly 35% from 2024.
Hybrid electric vehicles were factored in as 13.9% of registrations. Electrified vehicles together represented close to half of all new car sales in the UK during 2025.
Monthly sales trends and patterns
Battery electric vehicles registered 29,654 units during January 2026 and delivered a 20.6% market share, the lowest since April 2025.
February improved to 21,840 BEV registrations with 24.2% market share. March 2026 delivered a record-breaking performance.
BEV registrations reached 86,120 units, up 24.2%, though market share stood at just 22.6%.
BEVs were factored in as 22.0% of new car registrations year-to-date through March 2026. Plug-in hybrids recorded the strongest growth during February, rising 43.5% to represent 11.6% of the market.
Electric vehicle market share by company
Tesla retained dominance in the UK electric car market for 2025. The company's two models commanded a strong market presence amongst battery electric vehicles.
Most popular electric car models driving UK sales
The Tesla Model Y led 2025 sales with 24,298 registrations. The Tesla Model 3 followed with 21,188 units. The Audi Q4 e-tron secured third place with 14,433 registrations, whilst the Audi Q6 e-tron achieved 13,148 sales.
Ford Explorer registered 12,237 units, and the BMW i4 reached 12,158 registrations.
Electric van market share and growth
Electric van registrations totalled 27,789 units during 2025, representing 8.7% market share and a 35.5% increase over 2024. Electric light commercial vehicle registrations are forecasted to surge by around 50% for 2026, reaching 45,000 vehicles.
Key Trends Shaping the EV Market in 2026
Rising plug-in hybrid market share
Plug-in hybrids emerged as the fastest-growing segment in early 2026. European PHEV registrations increased by 33% year-on-year in January and reached about 102,000 units.
They captured around 10% of the overall passenger car market. PHEVs recorded their strongest January growth since 2021.
The global PHEV market is projected to grow from $89.93 billion in 2025 to $217.67 billion by 2034, at a compound annual growth rate of 10.32%. Mid-priced PHEVs appeal to families seeking lower running costs and the flexibility for longer trips without range concerns.
Affordability and model availability improvements
Model availability expanded substantially. Affordable options entered the market. The Citroën e-C3 joined the top 20 European models, and the Renault Twingo E-Tech Electric launched with pricing below £20,000. The Volkswagen ID. Everyone offers competitive pricing under £25,000 with a range exceeding 300 kilometres.
The UK EV Grant Scheme provides up to £3,750 off eligible vehicles and applies the discount at purchase automatically.
Charging infrastructure expansion effect
The UK public charging infrastructure reached 116,052 chargers across 87,796 devices by January 2026. Ultra-rapid chargers delivering 150kW or more saw the strongest expansion and grew 41% with 2,872 new installations.
Research confirms that charging infrastructure directly affects adoption rates. Studies show substantial increases in EV registrations following charger installations.
EV Market Share Forecasts and Growth Projections
Expected market share by the end of 2026
Forecasts point to the UK electric car market reaching 29% by year-end 2026. This means about 580,000 registrations. We see a 5.6 percentage point increase from 2025's 23.4% share. Electric light commercial vehicle registrations are projected to jump 50% to around 45,000 units[254].
Europe's battery electric vehicle market is expected to account for 23% in 2026 and 28% in 2027. The electric vehicle market share is forecast at 27.5% globally for 2026.
Regional growth predictions
Europe experienced 0.1% growth in light-vehicle sales for 2026, down from the 1.7% improvement forecasted earlier. BEVs and PHEVs exceeded 50% of registrations between January and February 2026 in Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands. EVs made up under 30% of deliveries in Spain, Italy and Poland.
Factors that could accelerate or slow adoption
Battery prices for BEVs sold in the EU could fall by over 30% by 2030. Around 30% of all cars sold in 2030 are expected to be affordable and mass-market BEVs, up from 10% in 2025.
High upfront costs remain the biggest problem. 54% of non-EV buyers cite price as a deterrent. Lack of charging stations discourages 44% of consumers.
ZEV mandate targets and manufacturer compliance
The UK ZEV mandate requires 33% of new car sales to be zero-emission in 2026. Forecast sales reach only 29%, so manufacturers face a compliance shortfall.
Flexibilities, including credit banking and trading, enabled 2024 compliance despite actual sales of 19.6% falling below the 22% headline target. Manufacturers who miss targets face fines of £15,000 per car.
FAQs
Q1. What is the current electric vehicle market share in the UK?
In 2025, electric vehicles accounted for 23.4% of new car sales in the UK, with 473,348 units registered. This represents a 23.9% increase from the previous year. For 2026, the market share is forecast to reach approximately 29%, translating to around 580,000 electric car registrations.
Q2. Which countries are leading the global EV market?
China dominates the global EV market, with electric vehicles exceeding 50% of total car sales in 2025 and accounting for two-thirds of worldwide EV sales. Europe follows with battery electric vehicles reaching around 20% market share in early 2026, whilst the United States achieved approximately 11% of total car sales in 2025.
Q3. What are the most popular electric car models in the UK?
The Tesla Model Y led UK sales in 2025 with 24,298 registrations, followed by the Tesla Model 3 with 21,188 units. The Audi Q4 e-tron secured third place with 14,433 registrations, whilst the Audi Q6 e-tron and Ford Explorer also featured amongst the top sellers with over 12,000 registrations each.
Q4. How is the charging infrastructure developing in the UK?
The UK's public charging network reached 116,052 chargers across 87,796 devices by January 2026. Ultra-rapid chargers delivering 150kW or more experienced the strongest growth, expanding by 41% with 2,872 new installations. Research confirms that charging infrastructure expansion directly influences EV adoption rates.
Q5. What is the UK's Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate target for 2026?
The UK ZEV mandate requires 33% of new car sales to be zero-emission vehicles in 2026. However, with forecasts pointing to only 29% market share, manufacturers face a compliance shortfall. Those missing targets face fines of £15,000 per vehicle, though flexibilities such as credit banking and trading may help achieve compliance.
