Surging costs of gasoline have led to a surge in sales of electric vehicles, according to industry data.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reported that March witnessed the highest volume of new car registrations since 2019, a crucial month due to the plate changes that drive consumer demand for new vehicles.
In March, a total of 380,627 new vehicles were registered, marking a 6.6% increase over the previous year. The rise was mainly fueled by the exceptional performance of electric vehicles, reaching a record high of 196,059 units, with a significant portion being battery electric cars that saw a 24% surge in registrations.
The top-selling model in the UK in March was the Jaecoo 7, a Chinese-made vehicle, marking the brand’s first time at the top spot. This success aligns with the trend of Chinese electric cars posing a notable challenge to traditional Western automakers.
Jaecoo, introduced to the UK market in February 2025, experienced a remarkable 570% increase in sales compared to the previous year, outselling established brands like Volvo and even surpassing Tesla by 4,000 units.
The demand for plug-in hybrid cars showed a substantial rise of 46.9%, with nearly 49,700 units sold, while hybrid electric vehicles saw a 7.3% increase in sales, indicating a growing preference for alternative fuel vehicles.
Conversely, sales of traditional petrol and diesel vehicles continued to decline, in line with the UK’s plan to ban their sale by 2030. Although petrol cars remained the most popular choice in March, with around 166,000 units sold, representing 43.6% of the market share, sales decreased by 6% compared to the previous year.
Amid rising fuel prices due to the Middle East crisis, consumers are increasingly turning to electric and hybrid vehicles to mitigate the impact of escalating costs at the pump.
While electric vehicle owners avoid fuel price fluctuations, they may face higher electricity charging expenses. Despite electric vehicles accounting for 22.6% of total sales in March, the industry warns that this may not be sufficient to meet the government’s Zero Emission Vehicle mandate target of 33% by 2026.
Industry experts emphasize the need for a comprehensive review of the transition to electric vehicles to ensure a sustainable market and support the UK’s net zero ambitions.
The shift towards electric vehicles is attributed to the increasing awareness of long-term cost benefits and environmental considerations, with government incentives playing a significant role in driving adoption.
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