October car registrations up 5.4% as battery electric share reaches 32.0%
Source: SMMT, "Year-end push lifts EV sales but Mandate gap set to widen", published 5 November 2026.
What the source says
UK new car registrations rose 5.4% to 152,730 in October 2026. Battery electric cars took 32.0% of the month and 26.6% year to date.
Allbase view
Car registrations are up and battery electric keeps gaining share, though SMMT expects the gap to the Mandate to widen. Steady support for glass and carbon fibre in battery housings and panels, but nothing to act on yet.
Our reading of the release, not a statement from the source. Checked against the release on 10 Nov 2026.
Figures from this release
- SMMT UK BEV share of new car registrations October 2026Oct 202632%Up
- SMMT UK new car registrations October 2026Units · Oct 2026152,730Up
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