Recent car registration data from England reveals a growing number of electric cars on the roads, yet petrol vehicles continue to dominate.
While car sales in October improved compared to last year in some regions, England saw an overall decline in new registrations, dropping by six percent.
Petrol cars remained the top choice for English drivers, with 72,681 new registrations. However, this figure still represents a 14 percent increase from October 2023.
In contrast, electric cars showed notable growth, with 29,802 new registrations—a 24.5 percent rise from the same month last year.
Electric vehicles have become the second most popular choice, capturing an 18 percent market share in the first ten months of the year, up from 16 percent last year.
Despite the rise in electric vehicle registrations, the UK government’s targets remain ambitious. To meet national climate goals, 22 percent of all new cars must be electric by 2024, rising to 28 percent by 2025.
Car brands that fail to meet these targets may face fines, yet the 2024 goal already appears challenging.
"Significant investment from manufacturers in model options and market support is driving the UK to become Europe’s second-largest electric car market," said Mike Hawes, CEO of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), in a press release.
Of the 144,288 cars registered in October, electric vehicles showed the most growth, while hybrid, petrol, and diesel sales declined.
Among the top-selling models, the Kia Sportage led the way, followed by the Ford Puma and the Mini Cooper.
