Sales surge 36% to record high in September

September delivered a record UK sales month for battery-electric vehicles, with 99,199 BEVs registered—up 36.3% year on year and making up 28.3% of the market, according to preliminary SMMT data. The overall new-car total rose to 350,518 registrations, up 12.1% from last September, as the market’s growth was driven by plug-ins. BEVs added 26,424 units and plug-in hybrids rose 55.7% to 59,563, a record 17% share. Combining both gives 158,762 plug-in cars (45.3%). Petrol and conventional hybrids fell as private registrations grew faster than fleets. Tesla’s Model 3 led EVs (9,929) and was #2 overall.