The UK had its best August since the biannual plate change began, up 13.7%, with battery-electric cars taking a near-record 29.8% share in a seasonally quiet month.

<p>The UK registered <strong>94,236 new cars in August 2026</strong>, up <strong>13.7%</strong> on August 2025 and the best August the market has recorded since the biannual plate change began, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (<a href="https://www.smmt.co.uk/evs-lift-august-new-car-market-but-september-is-key-test/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SMMT, 4 September 2026</a>). It is the ninth consecutive month of growth.</p> <h3>29.8% battery-electric, the second-highest month of the year</h3> <p>Battery-electric registrations reached <strong>28,063 units</strong>, up <strong>27.7%</strong> year on year and a <strong>29.8% share</strong> of the month, the second-highest monthly BEV share of 2026 after July. SMMT is upfront about why: August is a low-volume month, so percentage swings get amplified, and this is the same seasonal pattern the UK has seen every August since 2023. Plug-in hybrids grew 39.8% to 13,707 units and 14.5%, hybrids grew 26.3% to 11,940 units and 12.7% (<a href="https://www.tyrepress.com/2026/09/car-registrations-up-13-7-per-cent-in-record-august/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tyrepress corroboration</a>).</p> <h3>Private demand led the growth</h3> <p>Private registrations rose 19.0% to take 40.8% of the month, faster growth than fleet, which rose 10.1% but still carried the larger 57.2% share. The Ford Puma was August's best-selling model with 2,795 units, ahead of the Jaecoo 7 and the MG HS, two Chinese-brand entries in the top three.</p> <h3>September is the real test</h3> <p>SMMT's own framing for this release was "EVs lift August new car market but September is key test." September is the UK's biggest plate-change month and the best single read on whether the ZEV mandate gap is closing. Year to date, BEVs stand at <strong>355,746 units, a 25.62% share</strong>, against a 33% mandate line for the full year. August's strong percentage does not change that gap; September's volume will.</p> <p>Open the live <a href="/uk.html" style="color:#ff5300;">UK dashboard</a> for the monthly bars and the BEV share trend back to 2015.</p>

UK August 2026: Best August on Record as Market Grows 13.7% and BEVs Hit 29.8%