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The UK’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate is scheduled for review. But with other countries amending their policies, will the UK’s targets be amended sooner, or later? Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry reports on SMMT Electrified 2026. The UK automotive industry needs a review of the ZEV mandate, otherwise it could fall behind in the electrification race. That was the main message from the recent SMMT Electrified conference. Held in London’s QEII Centre, the event brought together automotive industry executives, regulators and suppliers. They discussed the current state of the UK’s electric vehicle (EV) market. The conference followed shifting emissions policies in Europe and the dropping of mandated targets in Canada. Meanwhile, the UK Government remains committed to the ZEV mandate. This is despite overall battery-electric vehicle (BEV) registrations failing to meet the 2024 or 2025 targets. The cost of reaching targets The ZEV mandate calls on carmakers to meet an increasing share target of zero-emission models in their annual registrations. It first came into effect in 2024, with a 22% requirement for passenger cars. This increased to 28% for 2025, while the target is 33% next year. This increases annually, reaching 80% by 2030. However, the biggest jump in the requirement comes between 2027 and 2028, with a 14 percentage point rise in the target, to 52%. The Department for Transport (DfT) released a report on the morning of the conference. It highlighted that all carmakers had complied with the ZEV mandate in 2024. Manufacturers had used conversion flexibility, while also borrowing future credits, with some banked for future years. However, SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes highlighted the costs that the industry faced in meeting ZEV mandate targets. ‘Non-compliance is not an option, but compliance comes at a massive cost,’ he told journalists, including Autovista24, during a press conference prior to the event. ‘In the first two years of the mandate, carmakers have spent up to £10 billion (€11.6 billion) in discounting on BEVs. That is in addition to the billions spent on new products, new technologies, and so forth. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes ‘In 2025, the average discount on a BEV model was £11,000. However, the payment for non-compliance to the ZEV mandate is £12,000 per model. Compliance comes with a tremendous cost, either in incentives, fines, or the need to purchase trading credits. ‘Therefore, while the DfT report shows that carmakers have met the requirements of the mandate in 2024, compliance does not necessarily mean that the mandate is deliverable,’ he stated. Further ZEV mandate challenges One issue impacting BEV uptake appears to be costs for consumers. The technology has long been touted as a more affordable alternative to petrol and diesel in terms of use. However, there is often a cost difference between charging domestically and using public plug-in points. In addition, the implementation of vehicle excise duty (VED) last year increased costs. A pay-per-mile scheme, known as eVED, for BEVs and plug-in hybrids was also announced in 2026. This is set to be introduced in 2028, at a point when the ZEV mandate target is set to jump. For carmakers, this could be a problem. The affordability of BEVs will be reduced, but the requirement for carmakers will leap forward. ‘Additionally, the flexibilities introduced last year will expire from 2029,’ added Hawes. ‘I do not know of anyone in the industry who thinks we will get to 80% of ZEVs by 2030. Beyond that, we still have a lack of clarity. ‘We have neither the regulation nor the certainty about exactly which technologies can be sold. But what we do know is the gap between ambition and demand is too great. The UK's attractiveness, not just as a market, but as a manufacturing location, evaporates. De-carbonisation, if we get this wrong, can mean de-industrialisation.’ Good intentions of the ZEV mandate Hawes stated that the UK’s automotive industry is committed to reducing emissions and working towards net-zero. ‘But sometimes, to reach a destination, you have to take a diversion. When the facts change, you have to adapt,’ he continued. ‘When the ZEV mandate was conceived, the world was a different place,’ Hawes stated. In line with statistics published by the SMMT during the event, he outlined that battery costs were 30% higher in 2025 than anticipated in 2021. Meanwhile, BEVs were 17% more expensive within the same timeframe. In addition, industrial energy costs were 80% higher than expected, Hawes stated. The costs of public EV charging at 50kW points were 120% higher than thought when the ZEV mandate was first discussed, he added. ‘We need it reviewed now and resolved now. Without change, the sector, the economy, mobility and decarbonisation itself are in jeopardy. So, government needs to be bold enough to lead the change to make sure that we have a system that is fit for the future,’ he concluded. Carmakers back early review The ZEV mandate issue remained a constant throughout SMMT Electrified 2026. Carmakers in attendance also backed the need for a review of the current strategy. ‘The ZEV mandate needs to be more aligned to where consumer demand is. Investment is so heavy in the market, then some of the vehicles sold will be loss-making. If you are in that scenario, and you are forced to increase supply as the ZEV mandate does, then that calls investments into question,’ highlighted Eurig Druce, SVP, group managing director at Stellantis UK. ‘If you cannot make a return on investment in a country, then the ability of a company to invest and create the growth that the government is looking for is absent. Therefore, we need to make some quick decisions, and a review next year is too late. We need a review now, to help us make the right decisions on investments,’ he continued. From left to right: Patrick McGillycuddy, managing director at JLR UK, Richard Finchett, deputy managing director at Toyota Manufacturing UK, Nicole Melillo Shaw, Managing Director at Volvo Car UK, Eurig Druce, SVP, group managing director at Stellantis UK But while development of BEVs continues, the route of discounting is not one that carmakers want to be going down. ‘We put a lot of investment into developing and building the advanced technology in BEVs. The last thing anyone wants to do is bring out a car with that much investment, and then start discounting from the beginning. It is unsustainable. So I think we need to make sure that we are allowing for demand to catch up with supply,’ pointed out Nicole Melillo Shaw, managing director at Volvo Cars UK. A different approach Patrick McGillyCuddy, managing director at JLR UK, further underlined the issue of confusion among consumers. ‘We have a very ambitious ZEV mandate, and then we have the eVED, which is proposed to come at a critical time in that journey,’ he said. ‘This causes confusion, and consumers will hesitate. Then we hesitate, and you get an uncertain environment. We produce most of our vehicles in the UK for global export, therefore we have to recognise that different parts of the world are moving at a different pace,’ he added. Ford Motor Company chair and managing director, Lisa Brankin, also brought up the issue during a candid fireside chat. ‘When it comes to a review, the government needs to consider the customer in two areas. They need to knock down the barriers to entry, but also understand and prevent confusing messages. ‘Last year, for example, we had the launch of the Electric Car Grant incentive scheme. That helped drive sales forward. But a few months later, there was the announcement of eVED. The two messages did not align, so the government really needs to be mindful of what it is saying if the end goal is electrification,’ she said. Failure from success Brankin also highlighted how the ZEV mandate directed focus away from Ford’s achievements in 2025. Instead, it suggested failure in the company’s performance, she explained. From left to right: Lisa Brankin, chair and managing director, Ford Motor Company, Katie Derham, host and broadcaster ‘Our sales grew by 20% in 2025, which was a great success. But we count it as a failure as we got to just under 24% of the fleet being ZEVs, when the target in the mandate was 28%. We are moving in the right direction, but not meeting targets,’ she stated ‘We have invested heavily in our facilities in Europe to build EVs, but we are having to discount heavily to meet targets. We may also be forcing people into vehicles that maybe they do not necessarily want, or maybe are not appropriate for them,’ she said. Brankin also pointed to the changes in other ZEV policies that have taken place around the world. ‘Canada has made a change, and our closest partners in the EU have already made adjustments. That was carried out in a matter of months rather than over a longer period. So, I would say to the UK government to get on with it, start the review, decide, and make the announcement this year,’ she continued. Government committed to 2027 ZEV mandate review Taking to the stage at SMMT Electrified 2026, Keir Mather MP, minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation, spoke of the success of the UK’s EV market. He highlighted that the country had the largest BEV share of Europe’s major economies, as a result of ambition, partnership and investment. Autovista24 analysis shows that in 2025, the UK saw its BEV share reach 23.9%, with 473,348 units. While this share was higher than the 19.1% achieved in the closest market, Germany, the volume of BEVs was lower. In 2025, the country saw 545,142 units delivered. Mather also stated that the EV transition in the UK is being backed by tens of billions of pounds in public and private investment. But he acknowledged that the ZEV mandate is potentially a challenge for the industry. ‘Is [the ZEV mandate] ambitious? Yes, of course it is, and we as government are committed to giving you the tools you need to make it happen. The industry successfully complied with the 2024 target, using the flexibilities built into the mandate, and provisional 2025 data also looks promising,’ he commented. ‘We are committed to publish a review of the mandate early in 2027, and we are listening, and we are engaging with stakeholders across the industry.’ When asked about the potential for an early review, as called for throughout the conference, Mather stated: ‘Work on the review needs to begin this year. But early 2027, we feel, is the right point to make sure that we can see properly where the pressure points lie in this ZEV mandate and make sure that it continues to work for manufacturers.’

Which new battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models recorded the greatest sales volumes in 2025? How did regional dynamics dictate the best-seller tables? Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus unpacks the data. Following two years of global new PHEV sales growth outpacing all-electric cars, 2025 saw BEVs surge ahead. With 13,697,372 units taking to roads around the world, the powertrain recorded year-on-year delivery growth of 26.7%. This is according to the latest data from EV Volumes. Meanwhile, PHEV deliveries slowed to an increase of 11.1%, down significantly from the 55.2% acceleration in 2024. Last year saw 7,217,499 plug-in hybrids making their way to customers. Much of this came down to China’s slowing PHEV market. The country was responsible for 70.3% of the powertrain’s sales, meaning declining results impacted the global market. In contrast, Spain saw triple-digit sales growth for the technology, but it made up a far smaller global share of just 1.8%. Between the two, the US made up 4.6% of the world’s PHEV market, with sales up 4.8%. Then came Germany with 62.5% growth and a 4.3% share. The UK had the fourth largest PHEV market, accounting for 3.1% of sales globally. The country saw deliveries increase by 34.5%.   The slowdown was highlighted by an increase in December’s global volumes of just 0.9%, as 758,073 sales were recorded. BEVs bounce ahead In contrast, China saw its BEV market pick up speed last year, with growth reaching 27.6%. Despite a smaller portion of global sales compared to PHEVs, it still dominated global deliveries at 59.1%. This was still far ahead of the next biggest market, the US, which saw sales fall by 3.9%. In total, 8.7% of all-electric car sales took place in the country. Given China’s slowing EV market and emissions regulation changes in the US, the dynamic of the global EV sector could shift in 2026 and beyond. Germany followed with 4% of the global BEV market as sales increased by 43%. The UK was 0.5 percentage points (pp) behind with a 3.5% share as sales increased by 24.2%. France saw all-electric sales increase by 13.6% as it made up 2.5% of all-electric deliveries. In December, BEVs managed a global increase of 12.4%, as 1,376,827 units made their way to customers. Best-selling BEV: Tesla Model Y The Tesla Model Y was the world’s best-selling BEV of 2025. With new variants and designs launched, it was the only electric vehicle (EV) to exceed the one-million delivery mark. In total, 1,085,521 units made their way to customers as it retained the market lead it has held since 2022. However, within an increasingly competitive space, the model saw its sales fall by 7.5% year on year. This meant its market share shrank from 10.9% in 2024 to 7.9% last year. Most of the Model Y’s sales in 2025 took place in China. Given the country’s greater EV market development, this should come as little surprise. However, the US was only 9.2pp behind, with 30% of the model’s overall sales taking place there. Behind these two formidable markets came South Korea, Turkey and Canada, representing 4.6%, 2.9% and 2.6% of the BEV’s sales. The Tesla Model Y was helped by a strong December. 129,650 units were sold in the month, boosted by its traditional quarterly reporting period. This was, however, 4.3% down year on year. Tesla takes second as China dominates The second-best-selling BEV last year had four things in common with the market leader. It was another Tesla, it saw updates in 2025, it retained its position from 2022 onwards, and its deliveries fell. The Tesla Model 3 saw sales decline by 5.5% to 499,685 units in 2025. This meant its market share dropped by 1.3pp to 3.6%. The Model 3 saw 40.1% of its sales take place in China. But once again, the US was only 9.1pp behind at 31%. The all-electric sedan saw positive uptake in the UK, with 3.1% of its deliveries occurring in the market. In December, the Model 3 placed second thanks to Tesla’s quarterly reporting. It achieved 55,198 sales, a 5.6% dip year on year. The Geely Geome Xingyuan, also known as the EX2 in some locations, ended the year in third. A relative newcomer in the BEV market, it first recorded sales in September 2024. It saw a marked increase of 800% to 473,948 units as its market share jumped by 3pp to 3.5%. While the Tesla Model Y and Model 3 each recorded sales across more than 75 markets, the Xingyuan contrasted heavily. It only posted deliveries in four markets, China, Brazil, Mauritius and Colombia. However, the latter three markets noted relatively minimal sales compared to China. It saw 99.5% if its sales take place domestically. The model is scheduled to enter major European markets in 2026. The Geome Xingyuan saw 43,185 sales in December alone, as it increased volumes by 161.9% year on year. This capped an impressive first full year on sale for the Chinese BEV. Eight Chinese BEVs in top 10 The Xingyuan began an avalanche of BEVs from Chinese carmakers. Eight of the top 10 in the best-sellers list came from the country. The Wuling Mini was fourth as it saw sales climb by 65.3% to 431,779 units. This gave it a market share of 3.2%, up from 2.4% in 2024. The BYD Seagull, also known as the Dolphin Surf in some markets, took fifth. However, its sales fell by 13.3% to 409,550 units. This took its share down by 1.4pp to 3%. The Xiaomi SU7 came sixth as its market share increased by 0.6pp to 1.9%. This was thanks to year-on-year sales growth of 85.3%, reaching 258,824 units. With a similar 84.2% rate of growth, the BYD Yuan Up, also known as the Atto 2, recorded 252,441 deliveries. Its share climbed by 0.5pp to 1.8%. The BYD Dolphin saw a 4.6% rise in sales to 227,352 units. Even though this was a better volume than in 2024, greater competition meant the BEV saw its market share shrink. It accounted for 1.7% of all BEV deliveries, down from 2%. The BYD Yuan Plus, also known as the Atto 3, saw sales decline by 33.7% to 225,133 units. This resulted in a 1.5pp decline in share to 1.6%. In 10th, the Xpeng M03 enjoyed a 264.7% sales increase to 177,150 units. Its grip on the market increased to 1.3% from 0.4% in 2024. Best-selling PHEV: BYD Song Plus While BYD was able to capture four of the top-10 best-selling BEV positions, it excelled in the PHEV market. In total, it claimed seven of the best-selling slots in the year, including first place. The best-selling PHEV in 2025 was the BYD Song Plus, known in some markets as the Seal U. This extended its winning streak, after it claimed the title in 2024. Last year it recorded 328,094 sales, taking 4.5% of the market. However, like the majority of BYD’s PHEVs in the top 10, it saw its deliveries fall compared with 2024. Its volumes declined by 9.8%, while its share was eroded by 1.1pp to 4.5%. At 50.8%, the Song Plus saw over half of its sales take place in China. Single-digit shares were recorded in 49 other markets. This included Turkey, Mexico, the UK and Brazil, accounting for 7.8%, 7.5%, 6.3% and 5.5% of its sales respectively. The end-of-year success came despite a fall in monthly performance. It ended December in fifth, with 22,226 units delivered, a 49.1% year-on-year decline. Qin Plus takes second In comparison, the Qin Plus was the second-most popular PHEV of 2025, but only recorded sales in 10 countries. China accounted for the vast majority of its deliveries at 96.2%. Globally, its volumes declined by 15.9% to 292,572 units. This meant it took a 4.1% market share, down 1.3pp. The model still topped the PHEV chart in December, thanks to 40,818 deliveries, a 30.1% increase compared to the same month in 2024. The BYD Song Pro took a marginally larger fall. Its share stumbled by 1.4pp to 3.2% as its sales decreased by 22% to 231,143 units. While China accounted for 78.2% of its sales, Brazil managed 10.5%, followed by Mexico at 4%. Highlighting the Song Pro’s struggles, it ended December in fourth, with its 24,070 sales down by 26.4%. The BYD Seal 6 took fourth in the global PHEV top 10 at the end of 2025. Its sales increase by 3.1% to 206,136 units. This made it one of two BYD models in the top 10 to achieve this positivity. However, this was not enough to stop its market share from slipping. It accounted for 2.9% of all PHEV sales last year, down from 3.1%. The first non-BYD model in the top 10 was the Li Auto L6 in fifth. It saw sales drop by 13.2% to 166,965, taking a 2.3% share, down 0.7pp. The BYD Qin L took sixth with a 2.3% grasp on the market. This reflected a drop of 1.2pp as sales slowed by 29.1% to 162,817 units. The BYD Destroyer 05 took seventh in 2025 even as its deliveries dropped by 32.7% to 150,677 units. Its share also took a downturn, hitting 2.1% from 3.4% in 2024. Share increases possible The top seven highest-performing PHEVs in the world all saw their grip on the market weaken in 2025. However, this was not the case throughout the top 10. After first recording sales in April 2025, the Aito M8 claimed a share of 2.1% with 148,934 deliveries. The BYD Song L came ninth, as its share increased to 2% from 1.9% in 2024. The model’s volumes increased by 16.8% to 142,301 units, the only other BYD to achieve this in 2025’s top 10. The Galaxy Starship 7, also known as the Starray, first recorded sales in November 2024. Across 2025, its deliveries soared by 512.8% to 126,461 units. This meant its market share climbed by 1.5pp to 1.8%. While the global PHEV market slowed in December, two models saw impressive performances in the last month of the year. The Fang Cheng Bao Tai 7 ended the month second in the PHEV table. It saw 34,086 sales, accounting for 4.5% of the global total. Meanwhile, the Aito M7 placed third with 26,468 deliveries. This was a 97.3% year-on-year improvement, the best result in the top 10. This gave it a 3.5% market share, up from 1.8% recorded a year prior.

The UK’s electric vehicle (EV) market is under pressure to perform in 2025. But how are new entrants and the introduction of the Electric Car Grant (ECG) helping to drive sales? Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry examines the data. The UK’s EV market, made up of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), is continuing to grow. Sales have benefited from new entrants and the reintroduction of incentives. In total, 522,489 EVs were sold in the country nine months into 2025, according to the latest data from EV Volumes. This equated to a 32.2% increase year on year. Of the two powertrain technologies, BEVs were more popular, accounting for 66.9% of all plug-in deliveries in the UK. With 349,704 deliveries between January and September, the BEV market increased by 29.6% compared to the same period of 2024. Meanwhile, the PHEV sector recorded 172,785 sales, signalling a 37.7% improvement. BEVs are under pressure to perform in the UK at present. The zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate requires 28% of a carmaker’s deliveries to be either BEV or hydrogen fuel-cell models. SMMT data revealed that BEVs only made up 22.1% of the UK’s entire new-car market three quarters into 2025. BYD leads new entrant boost Over the last few years, the UK has become an attractive prospect for new entrants to the European automotive market. Many of these brands are subject to EU import tariffs, with a focus on BEVs built in China. Of these new entrants, the most impressive performance came from BYD. Between January and September 2025, it sold the third-largest number of EVs in the UK, reaching 35,474 units. This was up 574.4% compared to the same period in 2024. The marque has been helped by its popularity in the plug-in hybrid market. Over the first three quarters of the year, the UK’s best-selling PHEV was the BYD Seal U, with 16,129 deliveries. It accounted for 9.3% of all PHEVs sold, leaving the industry stalwart, the VW Tiguan, in second. The rest of the carmaker’s tally came from the BEV market. While not placing in the annual top 10 chart after three quarters of the year, BYD did make inroads with the Sea Lion 7 in September. It was the sixth best-selling BEV in the month, moving 2,019 units. This was impressive for a model that only started deliveries in January, ending the month with a 2.8% market share. Jaecoo impresses as another new entrant Another impressive new entrant is Jaecoo. It only offered one model in the UK across the first nine months of 2025: the J7 PHEV. With deliveries first recorded in March 2025, it took third in the annual PHEV top 10 with 12,463 units. This puts it just 110 units behind the VW Tiguan, meaning it could end the year as the second-best-selling PHEV. September was the model’s best month on the market, with 4,855 deliveries, allowing it to take second. This meant the Jaecoo J7 held 12.6% of the PHEV market in the month. Alongside the BYD Seal U, it was one of two models to achieve a double-digit market share in September. However, Jaecoo’s reliance on one model over three quarters of 2025 did impact its position in the brand ranking. In September, the carmaker placed ninth. Yet this position could be boosted by the introduction of the Jaecoo 5 later this year. Jaecoo’s sister brand, Omoda, saw 6,154 sales between January and September, placing it 23rd in the brand chart. The carmaker has not fully focused on the EV market, with its Omoda 5 model offered with BEV or petrol powertrains. There are also other new entrants to the UK market that are still expanding their operations. These include Leapmotor, Chery, Xpeng and Geely. More brands mean more choice for consumers, something that can help spur the EV market forward. Incentivising the market In July 2025, the UK government announced the introduction of the Electric Car Grant. This incentive scheme sees up to £3,750 offered against the list price of a new BEV. This plan includes two tiers, with manufacturers required to nominate their passenger cars and light-commercial vehicles to be eligible. Models will either qualify for a discount of £3,750 (€4,299) or £1,500. The grant level is based on strict sustainability criteria. This includes the level of CO2 emitted during the production process, supply-chain emissions, and the use of renewable energy sources. Battery production emissions account for 70% of the criteria targets, with vehicle assembly emissions weighted at 30%, the RAC reports. The carbon intensity of the electricity grids where production takes place is also considered. Additionally, only BEVs with a list price of under £37,000 will be eligible. Currently, only three vehicles qualify for the maximum discount. These are the Ford Puma Gen-e, the Ford E-Tourneo Courrier, and the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross Long Range. Both Ford models were added to the list at the end of August, while the Citroën became eligible at the beginning of November. There are a further 38 models in the second tier, eligible for a £1,500 discount. Is the Electric Car Grant working? At first glance, it appears the ECG has had little impact on the UK’s BEV market. In September, the two best-selling models were the Tesla Model Y, with 4,273 units, and the Tesla Model 3, with 3,720 deliveries. The former lost volume compared to 2024, by 26.3%. However, the Model 3 jumped by 100.5% year on year. Yet the Ford Puma Gen-e was the third-best-selling BEV in September. This was the first full month of the model’s eligibility for the ECG discount. Having gone on sale in April 2025, the Puma Gen-e did not achieve more than 635 deliveries until September. On reaching this month, it achieved a volume of 3,144 units. The UK often sees a bounce in passenger car sales in September due to the plate-change effect. However, the Puma Gen-e achieved a month-on-month improvement of 1,383%. In comparison, the Ford Explorer saw an increase of 67.9%, while the Ford Capri achieved 109.6% growth. Therefore, it does seem that Ford has benefited from its BEV model being eligible for the full ECG discount. The only other ECG-approved model that made September’s top 10 BEV chart was the Skoda Elroq. Having come to market in January 2025, it saw 1,671 sales in the month, placing it eighth. This was its highest total of the year but was comparable with its 1,206 sales in March. So, it seems the model’s position is based more on the model’s popularity than its £1,500 grant. The rest of September’s top 10 BEV table was made up of models that are not eligible for the ECG. Therefore, it may be a while before the full effect of the grants becomes clear. Tesla domination continues Across the first nine months of 2025, the Tesla Model Y led the market with 18,310 sales. This gave it a 5.2% market share. Close behind was the Tesla Model 3, with 16,605 deliveries and a 4.7% hold of the all-electric total. The two US models have a commanding lead ahead of the third-placed Audi Q4 e-tron. This saw 11,087 sales in the nine-month period, for a 3.2% market share. In the PHEV market, behind the top three, the Ford Kuga placed fourth, some way behind the Jaecoo J7. With 8,305 sales, it achieved a 4.8% share of the total PHEV volume after three quarters of 2025. It was ahead of the MG eHS, which managed 5,739 deliveries and a 3.3% market share.

Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have all seen a notable electric vehicle (EV) uptake in recent years. What is behind this growth in the Baltics, and how bright is the future? Joanna Fabiszewska-Solares, market analyst at EV Volumes, examines the data with Autovista24 web editor James Roberts. While EV adoption, made up of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), remains inconsistent across Europe, some markets are pushing forward. In Portugal, every third car registered in the country last year was an EV. In Norway, BEVs account for almost 92% of new car registrations in 2024, according to EV Volumes data. Three nations can be added to this trend: Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Although not officially affiliated, they are strongly bonded through regional cooperation, historical ties, plus shared strategic and geopolitical interests. One further thing they share is recent, and significant, uptake in BEVs and PHEVs. In all three light-vehicle markets, accounting for passenger cars and light-commercial vehicles (LCVs), the EV share reached double digits. Underneath the apparent EV prosperity of these three geographically contiguous economies lies a complex set of circumstances. While Latvia and Lithuania are experiencing overall positive new-car sales spanning all powertrains, Estonia is seeing a more downbeat picture. The trio of markets needs to handle varying incentives, charging infrastructure challenges, and the forging of domestic energy independence. Latvia leading the way The second largest Baltic state in terms of population, at nearly 1.86 million, Latvia has developed a significant EV base. According to EV Volumes, between January and August, EVs accounted for 18.4% of the nation’s light-vehicle market. This meant 2,842 plug-in light vehicles were sold in the country in the eight months. This is compared to 1,156 at the same point last year, with a 10% share of the market. Between January and August this year, 1,076 BEVs took to Latvia’s roads, claiming a 7% market share. This was just 159 fewer than the 2024 total, which stood at 1,235, suggesting a new high will be achieved this year. 2023 set a high watermark for BEV sales in Latvia, in what was a strong year for the entire domestic automotive market. The powertrain achieved a 9.5% share of light-vehicle sales, with 1,800 units shifted. However, the following year saw a decline in BEV adoption as well as an overall fall in light-vehicle registrations. Weaker BEV sales in 2024 were largely the result of stricter EU-wide CO2 emission standards and impending 2025 emission targets. This contributed to a year-end push to sell internal-combustion engine (ICE) vehicles across many other EU countries, including Latvia. Underlining a pan-Baltic trend, PHEVs have enjoyed notable popularity in Latvia so far this year. Between January and August, the powertrain passed the 1,000-delivery mark for the first time, hitting 1,766 units. This is already up from 741 registered across 2024, with the powertrain achieving an 11.4% market share already this year. Incentives driving EV uptake in Latvia In 2023, EVs accounted for 11.6% of light vehicles taking to Latvia’s roads. This share remained stable at 11.5% in 2024, thanks mostly to an increased PHEV share. In isolation, the hybrid powertrain took a 2.1% share in 2023, then a 4.3% in 2024. Amid the wider new light-vehicle market falling by 9.5% in 2024, the BEV market share dropped 2.3 percentage points (pp) last year. Conversely, BEV deliveries fell from 1,800 in 2023 to 1,235 one year later. This year, major policy changes and increased availability of affordable models are supporting increased EV ownership. In April, the Latvian government raised the total funding support for EV and hybrid adoption by €11 million. This included EV purchase grants, setting subsidy levels at €4,500 for BEVs, and €2,250 for PHEVs. Coupled with this, falling interest rates have resulted in higher corporate purchases and leasing. This has driven total light-vehicle registrations upwards, despite inflationary pressure. Aligned with these incentives, BEVs, PHEVs, and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (FCEVs) remain exempt from registration tax. The policy amendments also increased the Operation Vehicle Tax (VEN) for internal-combustion engine (ICE) powered vehicles from January 2025. EV Volumes forecasts that EV sales in Latvia’s passenger car segment alone will grow by 27.5% in 2026. This will be driven by the availability of affordable EVs, as well as the tightening of EU-wide CO₂ regulations. Lithuania’s vibrant EV market So far this year, Lithuania, the largest of the Baltic states, has seen a similar PHEV-driven electrification trend to Latvia. Between January and August this year, the country saw 27,582 light vehicles registered. This puts it on course to meet last year’s total of 30,101 units. So, what percentage of these sales were attributable to plug-in hybrids? Between January and August this year, 2,532 PHEVs were registered in the country. This is already an increase of 77.1% on 2024’s total, which stood at 1,430. BEV registrations reached 1,616 deliveries in the first eight months of this year. This is on course to exceed 2024’s total of 1,720. However, this is likely to be below 2023’s record of 2,034 units. EV sales accounted for 15% of the Lithuanian light-vehicle market between January and August this year. This was up from 9.5% registered in the first eight months of 2024. EV growth has been mostly driven by increased PHEV registrations. The powertrain represented a 9.2% market share in the first eight months of this year, compared with just a 4.1% across the same period last year. Looking further back, EV registrations have surged since reaching 8.1% in 2022. EV sales in the passenger car segment are projected to continue growing. A year-on-year increase of 36.5% is expected by the end of 2025, according to EV Volumes. Varied EV incentives in Lithuania Since 2021, EV purchase subsidies have been available in Lithuania. These include €5,000 for individuals, as well as a €1,000 scrappage bonus, extending to €4,000 for companies. BEVs are also exempt from road tax until the end of 2025. From 2026, these vehicles will receive a 75% discount. Additionally, green tax reforms were introduced in January this year. This included the Corporate Income Tax Act (CIT), which is aimed at increasing taxable deductions for lower-emission vehicles. The sliding scale provides a maximum deduction of up to €75,000 for zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). Like Latvia, Lithuania’s EV sector has also benefited from falling interest rates. A growing number of leasing and renewal contracts from rental companies has helped push EV registrations up too. When it comes to EV charging infrastructure, Lithuania leads the way in the Baltics. The country benefits from a higher density than Latvia and Estonia. According to EV Volumes, Lithuania has a total of 1,618 public EV charging locations. This is compared to 1,180 in Estonia and 1,172 in Latvia. Estonia’s complex EV landscape Compared with Latvia and Lithuania, Estonia’s new-car market is experiencing notable headwinds. While the three Baltic states all suffer from high inflation, Estonia possesses the second-highest rate in the EU at 6.2%. This factor is contributing to a decline in domestic new light-vehicle sales. According to EV Volumes data, between January and August 2025, total light vehicle sales fell by 39.6%. This equated to just 8,275 units taking to Estonia’s roads in the period. In particular, ICE sales have dramatically fallen since January. This increasing void has boosted the overall market share of EVs in the country, albeit compared with a low baseline. Although the longer-term forecast for relative EV growth is promising. However, in volume terms, EV sales in Estonia are declining. Between January and August this year, 1,262 EVs were registered. This is compared with 1,387 in the same period last year, representing a 9% decrease. However, the EV share of passenger cars in Estonia increased to 17.3%, compared to 10.2% at the same point last year. Estonia powertrain breakdown Across the first eight months of 2025, BEVs held a 7.1% share of the overall light-vehicle market. Meanwhile, PHEVs took a 10.2% slice. In 2024, EVs accounted for 9.7% of the overall market, which amounted to 2,454 units. This was up from 2022, when 1,995 new EVs were registered. Like fellow Baltic states, Estonia has rolled out incentives to boost EV uptake. The Motor Vehicle Tax Act was introduced in January. Like incentives in Latvia and Lithuania, it offers reduced vehicle tax for owners of EVs. According to EV Volumes forecasts, passenger car registrations in Estonia will increase moderately by 3.9% year-on-year in 2026. EVs are forecast to expand, supported by ongoing tax exemptions and the EU-wide tightening of CO₂ emission standards. As a result, BEV and PHEV numbers are expected to grow by 42.8% year-on-year.

Which battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models drove worldwide sales in the first half of 2025? How have these electric vehicle (EV) markets evolved? Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus examines the latest data from EV Volumes. Worldwide sales of BEVs and PHEVs continued to grow in June, up 30.6% and 32.6% year on year, respectively. With a volume of 1,203,965 units, all-electric cars remained ahead of plug-in hybrids at 709,576 sales, according to EV Volumes data. This positive result continued 2025’s streak of monthly double-digit year-on-year delivery improvements for both technologies. Yet, BEVs have seen varied results. In January, the powertrain saw a slower rate of growth than PHEVs at 21%. This was followed by a surge of 55.6% in February. In the first half of 2025, this bumpy ride resulted in 6,053,860 BEV sales, up 34.5% year on year. This was a pronounced improvement on the 10.2% increase recorded at the same time in 2024. Meanwhile, PHEV deliveries grew by 33.9% in the first half of this year, with 3,481,281 sales recorded. This included 709,576 deliveries in June, which was a 32.6% year-on-year improvement. China drives BEV volumes China led the charge in plug-in vehicle sales during the first half of 2025. 57.8% of all BEVs sold worldwide were delivered in the country, up from 54.1% six months earlier. The next biggest market was the US, accounting for 9.4% of sales worldwide. This marked a decline from 12.4% recorded at the same point last year. Germany and the UK accounted for 4.1% and 3.7% of all-electric sales, respectively. France saw a drop from a 3.6% market share at the same point in 2024 to 2.5% in the first half of 2025. China accounted for an even larger slice of the global PHEV market between January and June. The country represented 70.7% of the powertrain’s deliveries, up by 1.2 percentage points (pp) year on year. The US made up 5.1% of sales, down 1pp from the first half of 2024. Germany accounted for 4% of the market, up 0.6pp year on year. The UK continued to represent 3.1% of all PHEV sales, while Spain’s share grew by 0.4pp to 1.6%. Best-selling BEVs worldwide In the first half of 2025, the best-selling BEV worldwide was the Tesla Model Y. The crossover recorded 469,143 sales, meaning it made up 7.7% of overall volumes. Two markets accounted for over two-thirds of these sales. China topped the charts, with 36.6% of all Model Y sales taking place in the country. It was closely followed by the US with 33.5%. Meanwhile, 3.3% of all the BEVs’ deliveries took place in South Korea, 3.1% in Canada and 2.6% in Turkey. With nearly half the market share of its sibling, the Tesla Model 3 came second in the first half of the year. It accounted for 3.8% of all global BEV sales, with 227,210 units delivered. Behind the two Tesla models, Chinese BEVs populated the rest of the top 10. A resurgent Geely Geome Xingyuan claimed third with 205,091 sales and a 3.4% market share. This was its highest position in the year-to-date table since February. This was the model’s highest position since February. It started the year well before dropping to fifth in April, then gaining positions again in May and June. BYD’s BEV block The Xingyuang overtook the BYD Seagull, also known as the Dolphin Surf in some countries, which dropped to fourth. It represented 3.3% of all BEV deliveries and recorded 200,079 sales. The Wuling Mini held on to fifth with 170,661 deliveries and 2.8% of the market. The Xiaomi SU7 followed in sixth. It made up 2.6% of all-electric sales with 155,821 units. The BYD Yuan Plus, known as the Atto 3 in select markets, finished seventh. It recorded 126,184 sales, taking a 2.1% market share. Its sibling, the BYD Yuan Up, also known as the Atto 2, followed close behind. It claimed a market share of 1.8% with 106,068 units. In ninth, the BYD Dolphin made up 1.6% of all BEV deliveries after moving 97,755 units. This meant four BYD models made it into the year-to-date top 10, a first for the carmaker this year. The Wuling Bingo fell to 10th, also claiming a market share of 1.6% with 94,602 deliveries. Bitter-sweet victory On the face of it, Tesla experienced a buoyant June. The carmaker’s quarterly boost allowed it to take back control of the top two. The Model Y recorded 133,629 sales, marking a year-on-year increase of 14%. Meanwhile, the Tesla Model 3 took back second place. However, its sales fell by 18.8% to 52,844 units. Both BEVs also saw their market share drop as competition intensified. The Model Y’s grip loosened by 1.6pp to 11.1%. The Model 3 fell from a 7.1% hold in June 2024 to 4.4% a year later. The Geely Geome Xingyuan finished the month in third, reaching 40,891 deliveries and capturing 3.4% of the market. In fourth, BYD Seagull saw its sales fall by 7.4% to 35,724 units. This meant it captured 3% of the market, down 1.2pp. The Wuling Mini finished in fifth with 26,113 units, an increase of 156.3%. Its grip on the global market tightened by 1.1pp to 2.2%. The BYD Dolphin saw its sales grow by 96.7% to 25,895 units. This meant it also represented 2.2% of all BEV sales in the month, up from 1.4% at the same point last year. BYD takes last three spots The Xiaomi SU7 claimed seventh as its deliveries grew by 62.6% to 23,252 units. Its share increased accordingly to 1.9% from its 1.6% market share recorded in June 2024. BYD took the last three spots in the top 10, with the BYD Yuan Plus in eighth. Its sales fell by 28.3% to 21,689 units. Its grip on the market also weakened, from 3.3% in June 2024 to 1.8% a year later. The BYD Yuan Up finished the month in ninth. Its deliveries increased by 94.4% to 16,332 units, meaning it took a 1.4% share, up from 0.9%. The BYD Sealion 7 came 10th, its sales soared by 207.5% to 15,970 units. This meant it represented 1.3% of the market, up 0.7pp.   Best-selling PHEVs worldwide The PHEV version of the BYD Song Plus, known as the Seal U in some markets, recorded 188,484 sales between January and June. This meant it led the global PHEV market, making up 5.4% of all PHEV sales. China accounted for 63.2% of the model’s total deliveries. Turkey was a distant second with a7.1% share, while Mexico represented 6.9% of overall volumes. The UK accounted for 4.6% of the model’s sales, followed by Italy with a 3.7% share. The Song Plus was the first of seven BYD models in the year-to-date PHEV top 10. With 127,353 units sold, the BYD Song Pro took second with a 3.7% share. Not far behind was the BYD Qin Plus with 3.3% of the market and 114,689 deliveries. Moving up a position, the BYD Seal 06 came fourth with a 3% hold and 103,045 sales. This meant the Li Auto L6 slipped to fifth, posting a 2.8% share and 96,419 sales. The BYD Qin L recorded 94,600 deliveries, taking 2.7% of the market. Moving up to seventh, the BYD Song L claimed a 2.2% share with 76,789 sales. The BYD Destroyer 05, also known as the Seal 5, climbed to eighth position, making up 2.1% total PHEV volumes. In total, 72,700 of these models were sold globally. Losing ground, the Galaxy Starship 7 fell from seventh in last month’s report to ninth. It recorded 70,918 deliveries and made up 2% of the market. Behind it, the Aito M9 moved up to 10th with 58,700 sales and a 1.7% share. Chinese PHEVs rule the roost The best-selling PHEV in June was the BYD Song Plus, which saw its sales increase by 25.6% to 35,767 units. However, with increasingly strong competition, its market share fell by 0.3pp to 5%. The BYD Qin Plus came second as its sales dropped by 29.4% to 25,818 units. Its share dropped accordingly, down from 6.8% in June 2024 to 3.6% 12 months later. The BYD Seal 06 was third with 23,783 deliveries, up 193.3% year on year. It captured 3.4% of the market, marking a rise of 1.9pp. The BYD Song Pro finished in fourth with 23,280 sales. Its market share fell to 3.3% from 4.4% in June 2024. The Aito M8 finished in fifth after recording 21,185 sales, giving it a 3% grip on the market. This is an impressive feat for the extended-range electric vehicle, as its first sales were recorded in April this year. The BYD Song L came sixth with 18,344 deliveries, making up 2.6% of the global PHEV market. BYD Destroyer 05 came next with a 2.5% market share, down from the 3.7% recorded 12 months prior. It saw 17,562 units sold in the month. With 16,536 sales, the Li Auto L6 finished eighth, down 30.7% year on year. This meant its market share slipped from 4.5% to 2.3%. The BYD Qin L suffered a similar fate in ninth. Down 9.5% to 16,304 deliveries, its grip on the market loosened from 3.4% to 2.3%. Finally, the only non-Chinese PHEV in the top 10 was the Volvo XC60. It posted 14,821 sales, as its market share increased by 0.8pp to 2.1%.

Tesla took the top two spots in the global battery-electric vehicle (BEV) market during the first quarter of 2025. Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus considers how quickly the competition is catching up. Between January and March 2025, global BEV deliveries increased by 37.8% year on year, according to data from EV Volumes. This brought the sales total to 2.74 million units. March bolstered this performance, with a gain of 38.5% up to 1.13 million deliveries. Meanwhile, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) saw lower volumes and growth. With deliveries up by 30% in the first three months of the year, the powertrain recorded 1.56 million sales. After a slightly slower January and an improved February, the global PHEV market grew by 29.2% in March. This equated to 604,046 units taking to roads worldwide. China led the global PHEV market. 69.8% of all PHEV sales took place in the country in the first quarter. This was up by 3.7 percentage points (pp) from the same period in 2024. The US followed with 5.3%, down 1.7pp, followed by Germany with 4.1%, up 0.4pp. Then came the UK, accounting for 3.4% of all PHEV sales, down 0.2pp, trailed by Spain, which held on to a steady 1.3% share, stable from the first quarter of 2024. China led the BEV market with a comparatively lower share of 56%, although this was a year-on-year improvement of 3.8pp. The US was down 2.2pp to 10.1%. The UK picked up 0.2pp with 4.4%, while Germany held steady with 4.1%. France fell from 4.1% in the first quarter of 2024 to 2.8% this year. Tesla takes top two The Tesla Model Y emerged as the best-selling BEV globally in the first quarter of 2025. With 201,773 units delivered, it accounted for 7.4% of the all-electric car market. Two markets drove demand, with 40.6% of the Model Y’s deliveries occurring in China and 34.8% in the US. A more affordable version of the Tesla Model Y was launched earlier in May, as reported by Reuters. The long-range rear-wheel drive version could cost approximately $44,990 (€39,903) in the US, before a $7,500 federal tax credit. The carmaker will be hoping this more accessible pricing will help it stay ahead of its competitors. In second, the Tesla Model 3 recorded 118,964-unit sales between January and March. This equated to a market share of 4.3%. The BYD Seagull, also known as the Dolphin Mini, finished in third, continuing its move up the year-to-date table. It took a 3.3% market share with 90,044 sales. The BYD Seagull recently won the 2025 World Urban Car award. A jury of 96 automotive journalists from 30 countries selected the top three finalists by secret ballot. Jurors based this on an evaluation of each eligible vehicle as part of their current work. The Geely Geome Xingyuan continued its descent, coming fourth at the end of the quarter. It recorded 89,215 sales, with a 3.3% share of the global BEV market. The Wuling Mini was next with a 3.2% hold and 89,185 sales. In sixth was the Xiaomi SU7 with a 2.8% market share and 75,921 deliveries. The BYD Yuan Up, also known as the Atto 2, soared into the top 10 with a market share of 2.1% and 58,097 sales. The BYD Yuan Plus, known as the Atto 3 in some markets, also climbed the rankings with 57,763 deliveries, representing 2.1% of the market. The Xpeng M03 fell to ninth in the year-to-date table with a share of 1.7% and 47,130 sales. Finally, the Geely Panda Mini came 10th with 42,792 deliveries and a 1.6% hold of the global BEV market. Tesla Model Y still leads The Tesla Model Y was the best-selling BEV in March. However, it recorded a year-on-year drop in sales of 24.7%. 89,016 units were delivered to customers. As a result, its market share was almost halved from 14.4% to 7.8%. Its sedan sibling, the Tesla Model 3, was able to hold onto second place as its deliveries increased by 30.5% to 54,197 units. However, increased competition meant its market share fell by 0.2 percentage points (pp) to 4.8%. The Wuling Mini came third with 42,184 deliveries, up by 162.9%, pushing its share from 1.9% to 3.7%. Then followed the BYD Seagull, with sales climbing by 36.7% to 38,276 units, its market share remained static at 3.4%. Taking fifth, the Geely Geome Xingyuan recorded 32,481 deliveries in its seventh month since launching. It captured 2.9% of the global BEV market. Not far behind was another more recent market entrant, the Xiaomi SU7. In its 12th month in the market, it recorded 29,256 deliveries and took a 2.6% share. The BYD Yuan Up managed 26,000 sales, taking a 2.3% share. Its stablemate, the BYD Yuan Plus, posted 22,554 global deliveries, a decline of 18.6% year on year. Therefore, its hold on the market slipped by 1.4pp to 2%. The Wuling Bingo finished the month in ninth with 17,420 sales. This marked a rise of 43.5% as its share remained steady at 1.5%. The BYD Dolphin represented the same amount of global BEV deliveries, with its market hold falling 0.6pp. It saw deliveries decline by 1.9% to 16,910 units. Eight BYD PHEVs in top 10 BYD took eight of the top 10 slots in the global PHEV table in the first quarter of 2025. The BYD Song Plus, also known as the Seal U, was the best-selling plug-in hybrid with a share of 5%. In total, 78,095 of these models were delivered across the world, nearly three-quarters of which were delivered in China. The BYD Song Pro was the second most popular PHEV across the world between January and March. With 69,271 units delivered, the models took a 4.4% hold of the market. The BYD Qin L came third with a share of 3.5% and 53,931 sales. The BYD Qin Plus was next up, recording 53,025 deliveries and a market share of 3.4%. Moving up to fifth place was the BYD Seal 06 with a market share of 3% following 46,893 sales. The first non-BYD in the PHEV top 10 was the Li Auto L6 with 44,347 deliveries. It also climbed the rankings, representing 2.8% of the market. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Starship 7 dropped to seventh with 42,286 sales and a share of 2.7%. In eighth was the BYD Destroyer 05, also known as the Seal 05. It held 2.1% of the global PHEV market with 32,789 sales. Only 643 units behind was the BYD Song L with 32,146 deliveries and a 2.1% share. The BYD Han finished 10th, holding 2% of the market after selling 31,880 units. BYD’s prominent PHEV performance The BYD Song Plus was the most popular PHEV in March. It saw deliveries increase by 34.4% year on year to 32,201 units. This pushed its market share up by 0.2pp to 5.3%. The BYD Song Pro finished in second with 26,813 deliveries, down 5.6% as its market share slipped to 4.4% from 6.1% a year prior. The BYD Qin L came third in its 11th month on the market. Its 21,671 deliveries represented 3.6% of all PHEV units sold. The BYD Qin Plus finished fourth with 20,457 deliveries, down 39.5% year on year. Its market share fell by more than half to 3.4% from 7.2% in March 2024. The BYD Seal 06 reached 18,217 units in its 11th month on the market, representing 3% of all PHEV sales. With 17,197 units delivered, the Li Auto L6 claimed 2.8% of the market. In seventh, the BYD Han saw sales fall 22.2% to 12,524 units, while its grip on the market slipped from 3.4% to 2.1%. In eighth, the Galaxy Starship 7 recorded 11,888 sales with a 2% market share. It was followed closely by the BYD Song L with 11,878 units, representing 2% of all PHEV sales. The Chery Fengyun T6, alongside the Tansuo 06, came 10th. It reached 11,786 deliveries and held on to 2% of the market.

Europe’s battery-electric vehicle (BEV) market surged in February, as plug-in hybrid (PHEV) registrations stagnated. Tesla led BEV sales, despite dropping deliveries. Tom Hooker, Autovista24 journalist, assesses the data. European BEV sales soared by 25.6% in February, reaching 166,319 units. This equated to a gain of 33,924 deliveries year on year. The improvement followed double-digit growth in January. BEV volumes grew by 30.3% across the first two months of the year, reaching 331,890 registrations. Conversely, PHEVs have struggled so far this year. The technology declined by 0.9% in February, with 72,421 sales. This was its lowest monthly figure since August 2024. The technology delivered 149,149 units between January and February, equating to a decline of 2.5%. Compared to 12 months ago, BEVs increased their plug-in market share. The powertrain made up 69.7% of volumes in February, an improvement of 5.3 percentage points (pp) year on year. Meanwhile, PHEVs fell from a 35.6% share to a 30.3% hold of the market. Tesla tops table The Tesla Model Y was Europe’s best-selling BEV in February, recording 9,173 registrations. The win came after the crossover fell to third in January. The model reclaimed the lead despite deliveries declining 54.4% year on year, representing a loss of 10,785 units. It accounted for 5.5% of total BEV sales in the month, down 9.6pp compared to February 2024. It sat 2,201 deliveries ahead of its sibling, the second-place Tesla Model 3. The sedan posted 6,972 registrations, a 14.2% drop from one year ago. However, this can be seen as a positive result for the sedan, which finished 11th in January. The Tesla Model 3 captured 4.2% of the market, down from 6.1%. Tesla appeared in headlines recently as it was targeted by vandals and protestors. It faced backlash at its German plant, with employees demanding better working conditions, according to the Financial Times (FT). Record Renault 5 result Third went to the Renault 5, recording 6,264 deliveries with the Alpine A290. This was the hatchback’s highest finish and unit total since it began registrations in June 2024. It represented 3.8% of overall BEV sales. Just 45 units behind was the Volkswagen (VW) ID.4 in fourth, with 6,219 deliveries. The model improved volumes by 167.3% year on year. Its share increased to 3.7% from 1.8%. The carmaker is expected to lower its financial forecast for the current fiscal year, as reported by Handelsblatt. Analysts at UBS expect that US automotive tariffs will likely reduce the margins and profits of multiple German carmakers. The Skoda Enyaq finished fifth in the BEV table, thanks to 5,681 registrations. This marked a 33% rise in sales. Yet, this was its lowest monthly figure since July 2024. It provided the SUV with a 3.4% share, up 0.2pp compared to 12 months ago. More VW BEVs The VW ID.7 finished sixth with 5,475 deliveries. While this marked a substantial increase from a year ago, February 2024 only marked its sixth month of sales. The BEV made up 3.3% of the market, growing from its previous 0.4% share. Its sibling, the ID.3, followed in seventh, recording 5,362 registrations. This marked a 109.2% increase year on year. It accounted for 3.2% of overall BEV volumes, up 1.3pp compared to last February. The Kia EV3 was just 22 units behind, with 5,340 sales in its fifth month of deliveries. The crossover also took a 3.2% market share. The model recently won the World Car of the Year title, judged by a panel of 95 automotive experts from 30 countries. This adds to its accolades, following on from its UK Car of the Year title. The brand recently announced the rollout of its generative AI-powered voice assistant to customers in Europe. The system allows users to engage in smooth and natural conversation with their Kia. In ninth was the Audi Q4 e-tron, reaching 5,120 registrations. Compared to February 2024, this equated to a 29% improvement. The SUV captured 3.1% of the market, up from 3%. This meant that five VW Group models featured in February’s top 10 BEV table. The Citroen e-C3 landed 10th, with a record 4,987 units in its 11th month of deliveries. This gave the BEV a 3% market share. Tesla back in first Across the first two months of 2025, the Tesla Model Y was Europe’s best-selling BEV, thanks to its February performance. This meant the crossover jumped from third to first in the year-to-date table, recording 15,091 registrations. It made up 4.5% of total registrations. The VW ID.4 remained in second, with 13,060 deliveries and a 3.9% market share. Then came the Skoda Enyaq which dropped from the lead, posting 12,398 sales and a 3.7% share. The next two models retained their positions from January. VW’s ID.7 finished fourth, with 11,384 units and accounting for 3.4% of overall volumes. The Kia EV3 was 140 units behind, also taking a 3.4% market share. The combined total of the Renault 5 and Alpine A290 rose to sixth, recording 10,880 registrations. The hatchback models made up 3.3% of the market in the first two months of 2025. This meant the VW ID.3 fell by one position to seventh, with 10,831 deliveries and a 3.3% share. After a positive February performance, the Tesla Model 3 stepped up to eighth. The sedan took a 3.3% market share with 10,798 sales. The result meant that positions six to eight were separated by just 82 units. The Audi Q4 e-tron fell one spot to ninth, recording 9,600 registrations and capturing 2.9% of the BEV market. Rounding out the top 10 was the BMW iX1, which represented 2.5% of BEV volumes with 8,195 deliveries. Like VW, UBS analysis forecast a worsening financial situation for BMW, with returns and earnings expected to fall this year. Volvo victorious again The Volvo XC60 was Europe’s best-selling PHEV for the fifth consecutive month, thanks to 4,180 registrations in February. However, this was the SUV’s lowest volume month since August 2024 and marked a year-on-year decline of 2.2%. It accounted for 5.8% of overall PHEV sales, stable from February 2024. News broke towards the end of March that the carmaker will recall just under 73,000 PHEVs across the world. This includes around 8,000 units in Sweden and 4,825 units in Germany, according to Auto Motor und Sport. When the battery is fully charged, parked vehicles may experience a short circuit in the high-voltage battery, according to electrive. Owners have been advised to avoid charging their cars. XC60 PHEVs built between 2020 and 2022 are affected, along with S60, S90, V60, XC60, XC90, and V90 models. Fine performances The Ford Kuga came second in February’s PHEV table, with 3,487 deliveries. This was a growth of 12.8% compared to 12 months ago. It made up 4.8% of sales, up 0.6pp year on year. Just 40 units behind was the VW Tiguan, reaching 3,447 registrations. This marked an increase of 278.4% year on year. The SUV also accounted for 4.8% of the market, surging from its previous 1.2% share. The BMW X1 finished fourth in February, with 3,198 sales, an improvement of 23.5% compared to one year ago. Yet, this was its lowest monthly figure since August 2024. The PHEV took a 4.4% market share, up 0.9pp. In fifth was the Toyota C-HR which posted 3,015 units. The model has slowly ramped up deliveries since February 2024. It captured 4.2% of the market. The C-HR may face increasing internal competition in the future. Nikkei reported that Toyota aims to have about 15 electric vehicle (EV) models developed by 2027. This would triple the size of the carmaker’s current plug-in range. BYD expands in Europe The BYD Seal U came sixth after completing one full year of deliveries. The model recorded 2,180 sales in February, giving it a 3% market share. The manufacturer has recently launched in Slovakia and Czechia, electrive wrote. BYD is also building a research base in the UK, as reported by The Independent. However, the European Commission is investigating whether China provided unfair subsidies for BYD’s Hungary plant, as told by the FT. In seventh was the Cupra Formentor, with 2,090 registrations. This was an increase of 7.7% year on year. The PHEV accounted for 2.9% of overall volumes, up from 2.7%. The BMW 5-Series placed eighth, posting 1,944 deliveries and recording a growth of 83.4% compared to 12 months ago. This gave the sedan a 2.7% market share, an improvement of 1.2pp from February 2024. Ninth was taken by the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The model reached 1,870 sales in the month, a 51.5% rise year on year. It represented 2.6% of total registrations, up from 1.7%. Alongside VW and BMW, UBS analysts also expect losses and a decline in operating profit at Mercedes-Benz. The Hyundai Tucson rounded out February’s top 10, with 1,785 units. This marked a year-on-year growth of 13.6%. It captured 2.5% of the market, up 0.4pp. Stable PHEV standings Across the first two months of the year, the Volvo XC60 extended its lead to 2,105 units over its nearest competitor. The SUV recorded 9,104 sales, giving it a 6.1% share. Second place went to the VW Tiguan, with 6,999 registrations and a 4.7% share. Then came the BMW X1 with 6,491 deliveries, making up 4.4% of overall PHEV volumes. The Ford Kuga was just 45 units behind, reaching a market share of 4.3% thanks to 6,446 sales. Toyota’s C-HR came fifth with 5,753 registrations, capturing 3.9% of the market. The Hyundai Tucson secured sixth with 4,173 deliveries, equating to a 2.8% share. This meant the top six kept their positions from January’s table. However, every model from seventh to 10th did not feature in January’s standings. The Cupra Formentor came seventh, reaching 4,142 registrations and a 2.8% share. Then came the BYD Seal U with 4,035 units, representing 2.7% of total volumes. BMW’s 5-Series landed ninth, with 3,994 sales and a 2.7% share. Rounding out the top 10 was the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, recording 3,799 deliveries and taking a 2.5% share.

Despite the UK’s battery-electric vehicle (BEV) sales leading the way in Europe last year, challenges lay ahead for the market. Phil Curry, Autovista24 special content editor, reports on the recent SMMT Electrified conference. The UK’s electric vehicle (EV) market is facing several challenges that could disrupt the growth seen in recent years. From a lack of charging locations to challenging sales targets, there are many roadblocks to consider. The SMMT Electrified conference was an opportunity for the UK market to come together and discuss the issues. Speakers and attendees came from across the industry, with carmakers, suppliers and EV specialists present. Key points raised at the conference this year included: A need for the industry and government to work together. More investment in UK charging infrastructure. Flexibility on the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate targets. Changes to the Expensive Car Supplement (ECS). Quicker decision making for government regulations. A lot has changed since the last conference in 2023. Two years ago, there were calls for clarity around the 2030 petrol and diesel new-car ban. This year highlighted the need for more clarification. Between the two conferences, the ban changed to 2035, then back to 2030. The ZEV mandate was enacted with its first full year in 2024 proving a new obstacle. So, the industry needs more support to reach its targets and incentivise buyers to consider an EV. The SMMT is calling for flexibility in the ZEV mandate, alongside a cut in VAT on public charging costs. The price of new EVs was also highlighted as a concern. This was all documented in a new report launched at SMMT Electrified: In it together, why every sector wins with EV volume. Enticing buyers In 2030, a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles will come into effect. At that time, the ZEV mandate required 80% of carmaker fleets must be either a BEV or hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle. Despite the UK emerging as the leading BEV market in Europe at the end of 2024, registrations have slowed. While the ZEV mandate target for fleets last year was set at 22%, the entire market managed just 19.6%. The ZEV target increases to 28% this year, so many brands may struggle. An SMMT-commissioned survey revealed 23.1% of would-be new-car buyers plan to get an EV between now and 2028. While encouraging, this is below the ZEV target for this year alone. Additionally, of these drivers, just 11.5% would be switching to an EV from another powertrain. Therefore, the market is heavily reliant on those who have already made the switch and may be looking to upgrade. ‘Our modelling shows halving VAT on new EV purchases would encourage sceptics to make the switch, growing demand by a further 15% on top of current outlooks and resulting in two million new EVs on the road by 2028. That would also result in a six megatonne CO2 saving, equivalent to a sixth of the UK’s annual aviation emissions,’ commented SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes. Call for support at SMMT Electrified With the right government support, the SMMT study revealed that two-in-five electric sceptics might change their minds. This includes purchase incentives, a greater charge point rollout, and a reduction in public charging costs through a VAT cut. ‘Everyone wanting to achieve net zero in the UK must stick together,’ Hawes stated at the event. ‘No industry, sector or stakeholder, including government, can deliver this alone. The UK automotive industry has done and is continuing to play its part, collectively committing over £20 billion (€23.8 billion) to develop and bring to the UK world-leading EV technologies.’ Hawes highlighted that the UK needs to pick up the pace of its EV transition. He cited a report by the Committee on Climate Change, which stated that such a move is fundamental to the prosperity of the country. Hawes suggested that some critical assumptions were made to realise this vision. ‘First of all, it is expected in the report that electricity will become cheaper and that EVs will reach price parity with internal-combustion engine (ICE) cars in the next couple of years. I hope that is true, but frankly, I think we remain a very long way from both. So, we do need to pick up the pace, despite how strong it has been over the past couple of years,’ he commented. The impact of charging One big issue impacting purchase decisions is charging infrastructure. ‘Charging, and the perception of charging, remains one of the biggest barriers to purchasing an EV. Consumers will simply not buy EVs if they cannot conveniently charge them,’ commented Hawes. ‘Now, we are seeing infrastructure expand, up by more than a third last year. This is good news. But the increase is just about keeping pace with the EV rollout,’ he added. According to Hawes, there is still only one public charge point for every 28 plug-in cars on the road in the UK. This ratio has not changed in the last 12 months. Even worse is the regional variation. There is one charger for every 10 EVs in London. Meanwhile, there is one point for every 57 plug-in models in the northeast of England. However, changes are coming. The UK government is investing more in charging locations. ‘At the last budget, we announced a £200 million investment to continue powering the charge point rollout, unlocking £6 billion of private investment in the process,’ stated Lillian Greenwood, future of roads minister. ‘Currently, there are around 75,000 charging points across the UK, a 32% increase since this time last year. That is in addition to the 680,000 households in England that have access to a domestic charger. ‘But we need to go further. In December, we confirmed that over 100,000 charge points will be installed across local authorities in England, and we have delivered 1,400 new charge sockets outside schools and colleges over the past 12 months,’ she added. Charging costs For drivers without a domestic charger, such as those without off-street parking, the charging costs can be higher. These drivers rely on the public charging network and often rapid charging locations. According to the minister, drivers with access to domestic charging can save up to £790 a year if they mostly charge at home. When questioned about the higher price for drivers who are without access, and the potential of reducing VAT on public charging to help them, the remark was not answered. Instead, the minister highlighted the ways the government is making it easier for drivers who can park outside their homes, to access domestic charging. ‘One of the things we are doing is making it easier for people who do not have a driveway to be able to charge outside their home. We announced new guidance in December about cross-pavement charging and we are rolling out thousands of new charging points,’ she responded. The cost situation was highlighted later by Ryan Fisher, head of EV charging infrastructure at BloombergNEF. He stated that UK drivers could save around $1,200 (€1,099) a year in fuel costs for 14,000km (8,700 miles) of driving with a domestic charger and dedicated EV energy tariff. However, if relying on fast charging at an average of $0.97 per kWh, drivers would spend $1,000 more annually. ‘When we think about pricing, what we have seen is that prices have risen for fast charging in many markets. This is more expensive than petrol. In the UK, it is probably about 1.5 times more expensive [per mile],’ he stated. Expensive cars Another issue that could impact the UK’s BEV market is the addition of vehicle excise duty (VED) to models from April 2025. Currently, all-electric vehicles are exempt from this tax. However, from 1 April, vehicles registered after 31 March 2017 will have to pay an annual fee of £195. For brand new cars, the first-year fee will be £10, increasing in the second year. Models purchased before this date will have a VED fee of £20 per annum. However, the biggest problem facing the market is the Expensive Car Supplement. This is an additional tax added to a vehicle between its second and sixth year of registration. Currently, the tax is levied on models that cost £40,000 or more. Many BEVs would be eligible for ECS. The technology is still expensive compared to ICE models. This leaves consumers looking for a larger family vehicle with few options. They could pay thousands more in tax, consider the limited range of cheaper models or enter the used-car market. The ECS was established in 2017, and despite changes in the economic markets, has never been revised. Hawes suggested at the SMMT Electrified Conference that this threshold should be increased to £60,000. Speaking in one of the panel sessions, Paul Philpott, president and CEO of Kia UK, commented on the situation. ‘We did some calculations, and last year, around 25% of non-electric vehicles were above the £40,000 threshold and attracted the £2,500 additional taxation over the ECS period. However, 70% of BEVs last year were priced above £40,000. ‘So, we are about to tax most of the EV market more VED for buyers than they would pay on an ICE car. How that supports our road to zero I am not sure,’ he added. Incentivising the market A point hammered home at the event was that the UK EV market needs incentives to continue to grow. These are not just monetary, but regulatory as well. ‘There are two issues, incentives and disincentives. The fact remains that consumers, especially private consumers, are not buying EVs in sufficient numbers to meet our ambitious and collective targets. Our industry has had to discount heavily to encourage demand,’ commented Hawes. One issue is the ZEV mandate, which the SMMT and automotive industry wants to be more flexible. ‘We have to accept that the ZEV mandate has turned out to be a road paved with good intentions but has not yet taken us to where we need to be. ‘Back when it was drawn up, the roadmap was perhaps clearer. Energy prices were lower. Raw material production costs were improving. Money was cheaper. There was higher organic demand for these types of vehicles,’ Hawes added. Yet with higher energy costs and geopolitical uncertainties, the pathway has changed. While the EU has recently announced plans to amend CO2 regulations to cover five years, the UK government’s trajectory to ZEVs is more rigid. ‘Getting to the 28% threshold is a challenge right now. It increases to 33% next year, and then the big challenge comes. If we have not got momentum going into 2027, how do we get from 33% to 80% in four years? Momentum must come from government incentivisation for retail customers to make the switch now,’ added Philpott. Speed of decisions Even if there was a change to a more flexible system, this would need to be communicated and enacted quickly. Without this, carmakers could still struggle. ‘I think the thing that is surprising was in the EU they started a review at the beginning of January, and they published the output of that a couple of weeks ago. So, they have turned something around, quickly, and I think we need to ask the UK government to do the same,’ commented Lisa Brankin, managing director at Ford of Britain. The SMMT’s report calls for an extension and expansion of regulatory flexibilities that support continued investment in the ZEV rollout. This also supports compliance with rising mandate targets. Acknowledgement of various technologies, including hybrids and plug-in hybrids, have to play in decarbonising road transport was also called for. This is either as a stepping stone or toward the full delivery of zero-tailpipe emissions by 2035. Overall, the UK’s EV market could continue to lead Europe. But with challenges ahead, the message is clear. The industry needs support and must work together with the government and the private sector. Revisions to costs, the charging network, taxation and more will help the EV market to thrive. But these changes are needed sooner rather than later.  

Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) enjoyed a mostly positive 2024, but which models proved the most popular globally? Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus examines the year’s best-selling electric vehicles (EVs). BEVs and PHEVs both recorded double-digit registration growth around the world last year. In particular, PHEVs had a successful 2024, with deliveries increasing by 54.4% year on year to 6.5 million units. Meanwhile, BEV registrations increased by 13.6% to 10.8 million units. Both powertrains enjoyed a strong start to the year, with high growth in January. A major contributing factor was the Chinese market, which saw increased demand for EVs. This was followed by a less successful global market in February, with BEV deliveries falling. Once again, China was a primary driver of this change. The country’s high demand dropped as Chinese New Year celebrations began on 10 February and lasted for 15 days. In 2023, the celebration began at the end of January and ended in early February, accounting for the comparative difference. As the year rolled on, both powertrains recovered from this early drop. While BEVs experienced lower single-digit inclines between June and July, PHEV deliveries never dropped below a growth rate of 25.9%. In December, BEV registrations were up by 15.3% to 1.2 million units. PHEVs once again saw lower volume, but greater growth. In the last month of the year, plug-in hybrid deliveries increased by 48.9% to 743,689 units. But which models were the most popular across 2024? Model Y claims 2024 victory The best-selling BEV in 2024 was the Tesla Model Y. This was the all-electric model’s third consecutive win. It was the only BEV to cross the one-million-unit mark last year, recording more than 1.1 million deliveries. The Model Y made up 10.9% of all BEV sales in 2024. The US carmaker will be looking to keep this momentum in 2025 with a facelifted edition of the Model Y. A launch version of this car is currently available in the US. However, Lars Moravy, vice president of vehicle engineering at Tesla, told Jay Leno more variants will arrive later this year. The next best-selling BEV, the Tesla Model 3 represented 4.9% of the market, with 529,170 registrations. This meant it took second place in the rankings for the third year in a row. Maintaining such a high position was no doubt thanks to its refresh in 2023. The BYD Seagull, also known as the Dolphin Mini in some markets, was the third best-selling BEV in 2024. The model launched in 2023 and reached fifth place that year. Recording 472,798 sales in 2024, the Seagull held a 4.4% market share. BYD recently confirmed it will install a new autonomous driving system across its entire range. Dubbed ‘God’s Eye’, it looks to be capable of autonomous overtaking on roads and parking via smartphone, as outlined by the Financial Times. Making systems previously featured in premium models more widely available should make affordable BEVs like the Seagull even more appealing. BYD claims three spots The BYD Yuan Plus, also known as the Atto 3, finished 2024 in fourth. It reached a volume of 339,656 units, accounting for 3.1% of all BEV sales. The Wuling Mini finished in fifth place, with a market share of 2.4% after reaching 261,182 registrations. The third BYD in the BEV top 10 was the Dolphin. It recorded 217,018 deliveries, meaning it made up 2% of the all-electric market last year. The Wuling Bingo was only 1,237 registrations behind, reaching a volume of 215,781 and a share of 2%. The Aion Y was slightly further back in eighth place, making up 1.5% of the market with 161,686 deliveries. The first BEV from a European manufacturer in the top 10 was the Volkswagen (VW) ID.3 in ninth. The all-electric car represented 1.4% of the BEV market last year, with 149,919 registrations recorded. Taking tenth place was the Changan Lumin. It reached 145,494 deliveries across the world in 2024, accounting for 1.3% of the global BEV market. Familiar top three The order of the year’s leading three BEV models was mirrored in December’s results. The Tesla Model Y finished first with an 11% share of the market. Its 134,408 deliveries were up by 5% on December 2023. The Tesla Model 3 moved up a place from November to take second, with 4.8% of the market. Its deliveries grew by 1% in the month to 58,407 units. This left the BYD Seagull in third with a 4.2% share of the market after recording 51,566 sales, up by 2.1%. The Wuling Mini finished December in fourth, as its sales jumped by an impressive 50.9% year on year, to 37,755 units. This gave it a 3.1% share of the market. The Wuling Bingo climbed to fifth place as its sales increased by 8.3% to 31,255 units, and it claimed 2.6% of the market. Now in its third year on sale, the BYD Yuan Plus slipped to sixth as its deliveries dropped by 26.4%. With 27,761 units, it made up 2.3% of all BEV sales in December. The Xiaomi SU7 came seventh with a volume of 25,815 units and a 2.1% share. The BYD Yuan Up hit 19,265 sales, claiming 1.6% of the market.  The BYD Dolphin saw its sales fall by 38.1% to 18,968 units, with a share of 1.6%. In 10th, the Geely Geome Xingyuan was not far behind with 1.3% and 16,491 registrations. BYD commands 2024 PHEV table The BYD Song, also known as the Seal U, commanded the global PHEV market. It recorded 660,214 deliveries, making up 10.2% of all plug-in hybrid sales. In second place, the BYD Qin Plus took a 5.4% market share with 347,757 deliveries. The BYD Qin L held 3.5% of the market with 229,591 deliveries. Its sibling, the BYD Destroyer 05, followed close behind with a share of 3.4% and a volume of 223,778 units. The brand claimed its fifth consecutive spot in the table with the BYD Seal 06. It took a share of 3.1% and 200,019 units registered. The Aito M7 finished the year close behind, with 193,342 units and a 3% share. The Li Auto L6 took 3% as well, with 192,257 registrations. The last model from BYD in the top 10 was the Han, accounting for 2.8% of all PHEV sales with 178,767 deliveries. The Li Auto L7 finished in ninth with 143,698 sales and a 2.2% market share. In 10th, the Aito M9 recorded 139,452 sales and represented 2.1% of PHEV sales. BYD’s December run Having dominated the full-year chart, BYD also commanded global PHEV registrations in December. The brand claimed seven of the top 10 positions. The BYD Song took first with a market share of 10.3% as its sales climbed 23.4% year on year to 76,433 units. Second went to the BYD Qin Plus, recording 31,375 sales, up 6.4% year on year. This allowed it to claim a market share of 4.2%. The BYD Qin L took third, making up 4% of the market with 30,062 global sales. The BYD Seal 06 finished fourth with 27,913 deliveries and a 3.8% share. The Li Auto L6 finished in fifth with a sales volume of 27,769 units and 3.7% of the market. BYD returned in sixth with the Song L, accounting for 3% of PHEV sales in December with 22,502 deliveries. The BYD Han was close in seventh, with 22,427 registrations and a 3% share of the market. The eighth-place BYD Destroyer 05 recorded 21,210 deliveries, as it made up 2.9% of PHEV sales in the month. In ninth, the Galaxy Starship 7 held 2.7% of the market with 19,836 sales. The Li Auto L7 finished in tenth with 13,898 deliveries and a 1.9% market share.