One third of all new vehicles registered in January had been electrical or hybrid

Battery electrical automobiles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electrical automobiles (PHEVs) accounted for almost one-third of all new automobile registrations in January 2026, an unbiased transport analysis organisation has reported, marking what appears a big milestone in client acceptance.

In response to information revealed by New AutoMotive, an unbiased transport analysis organisation targeted on accelerating the shift to electrical automobiles, BEVs and PHEVs collectively accounted for 32% of all new vehicles registered in January 2026, which compares with a mean of one-quarter of all registrations all through 2025.

Information from New AutoMotive present that battery-electric automobiles (BEVs) comprised 20.9% of latest vehicles in January 2026, whereas plug-in hybrid electrical automobiles (PHEVs) contributed 11.9%. When grouped collectively, this exceeds the proportion of latest registrations that had been petrol automobiles, which had been 28.1% of latest registrations. Hybrid electrical automobiles (HEVs) exhibited a 33.9% market share, the best for any automobile sort.¹

Nationwide registration figures compiled by the Society of Motor Producers and Merchants (SMMT) present general new automobile gross sales rose 3.4% in January to 144,127 models,² and electrical automobiles appear to have been central to a story that the automotive market is quickly evolving, and consumers are making a shift away from petrol and diesel.

Regardless of the general development, information from SMMT point out that absolutely electrical automobiles (BEVs) — excluding plug-in hybrids — noticed a comparatively modest (0.1%) rise in contrast with a surge within the latter half of 2025. Nonetheless, when mixed with PHEVs – for which the group recorded the biggest development – the electrified share accounts for a rising slice of the whole market.

The New AutoMotive figures arrive in a context the place broader automotive statistics counsel a fancy image for electrification. Another markets, reminiscent of Norway, have already recorded placing EV dominance — with petrol-powered vehicles nearly disappearing from their gross sales combine in January — whereas European markets general proceed to broaden electrified choices in response to regulatory stress and client demand.³

Trade watchers observe that the rising BEV and PHEV share could have implications for presidency local weather targets and regulatory deadlines. The UK has set phased targets underneath its Zero Emission Car (ZEV) Mandate aimed toward driving up low-emission automobile gross sales by means of the mid-2020s — a coverage atmosphere that probably helps the latest shift in registration patterns. Analysts at SMMT have projected that electrified automobiles, together with BEVs and hybrids, may command a a lot bigger portion of the market by the top of 2026, bolstered by broader mannequin availability and incentive constructions.⁴

Regardless of these beneficial properties, the trail to electrification stays uneven throughout producers and segments, and market share figures fluctuate from month to month. Nonetheless, the January 2026 information from New AutoMotive gives a transparent indicator that electrified drivetrains are gaining a surer foothold in what has historically been a petrol-dominated market.

Notes
[1] “BEVs and PHEVs account for almost one-third of January new automobile registrations within the UK”, Infrastructure Information, 6 February. Hyperlink: https://www.evinfrastructurenews.com/provide/bevs-and-phevs-account-for-nearly-one-third-of-january-new-car-registrations-in-the-uk?utm_source=chatgpt.com
[2] Hyperlink: https://www.smmt.co.uk/new-car-market-starts-year-with-growth-but-ev-share-falls/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
[3] “Solely seven new petrol-powered vehicles bought in Norway in January”, The Guardian, 6 February. Hyperlink: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/06/only-seven-petrol-powered-cars-sold-in-norway-in-january?utm_source=chatgpt.com
[4] “The UK’s 10 hottest vehicles in 2026 (up to now)”, The Occasions, February 2026. Hyperlink: https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/driving/article/most-popular-cars-in-2026-kfnnw8kkp?utm_source=chatgpt.com.