The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has revealed a 13.7% rise in new car registrations for September, an improvement from the previous year.
The surge resulted in 312,891 vehicles being registered, the highest figure for the month since 2020.
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This growth was supported across all sectors, with fleet registrations seeing the most substantial rise at 16.9%, totalling 174,336 units.
Registrations by private consumers also climbed by 8.9% to 131,003 units, and business registrations escalated by 28.6%, resulting in 7,552 deliveries.
Electrified vehicles, including hybrids and battery electric vehicles, represented over half of the new registrations.
The growth was attributed to factors such as manufacturer discounting, a wider range of models, and the introduction of the Electric Car Grant, which spurred additional interest in qualifying models.
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By GlobalDataThe year-to-date demand has increased by 4.2%, with zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) now comprising over a fifth of all new car registrations in 2025.
Despite the positive trend in electrified vehicle registrations, there remains a discrepancy between the current uptake of electric vehicles and the government’s targets.
To encourage more private buyers, who currently make up less than a quarter of new battery electric vehicle registrations, initiatives such as the Electric Car Grant are seen as crucial to improving affordability.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “Electrified vehicles are powering market growth after a sluggish summer – and with record ZEV uptake, massive industry investment is paying off, despite demand still trailing ambition.
“The Electric Car Grant will help to break down one of the barriers holding back more drivers from making the switch – and tackling remaining roadblocks, by unlocking infrastructure investment and driving down energy costs, will be crucial to the success of the industry and the environmental goals we share.”
Recently, the SMMT released preregistration data for August 2025.
Volkswagen secured 8.52% of the total market share, with a gross revenue of £262,360 ($352,633) from preregistered vehicles.
