British drivers are being offered more electric car choice than ever, with manufacturers launching the equivalent of one fully electric model every fortnight for the past three years, according to new research by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Eighty-five new battery electric (BEV) car models have reached the UK market since 2023 – doubling the number available to 171. They sit alongside 109 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and 52 hybrid electric (HEV) models, meaning more than 75% of the UK’s available market offering is capable of driving without tailpipe emissions. The breadth of choice is the result of sustained investment by manufacturers, with new vehicles typically taking between three to five years to develop and bring to market.
UK new car buyers can choose from 385 models across every powertrain and from more than 60 global brands. It makes Britain one of the world’s most diverse and competitive car markets, with options to suit every budget, lifestyle and driving need. Electric cars are now available in every segment – from compact city cars and family hatchbacks to executive saloons, SUVs and sports cars – while strong manufacturer discounts and the government’s Electric Car Grant are helping to make the switch more affordable.
Britain’s new car market has never offered so much choice, with a new electric model arriving every fortnight and zero emission motoring now available in every shape and size of vehicle.
Mike Hawes, Chief Executive, SMMT
The expansion in choice reflects the automotive sector’s leadership in the UK’s transition to zero emission driving. Manufacturers are investing billions in new technologies, battery development, vehicle platforms and production facilities, bringing increasingly sophisticated cars to market with greater efficiency, performance and range. Full EVs are now typically able to travel more than 300 miles on a single charge, well above the 127 miles driven weekly by the average UK driver.
That investment is also delivering for the environment, with the rapid rollout of battery electric cars, alongside advances across hybrid and conventional engine technologies, helping to cut new car CO2 emissions by more than half a million tonnes a year.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “Britain’s new car market has never offered so much choice, with a new electric model arriving every fortnight and zero emission motoring now available in every shape and size of vehicle. Industry investment is delivering the products, performance and range drivers need, while compelling offers are helping more people make the switch. For those still facing barriers or uncertainty, the huge range of hybrid and lower emission models means drivers can still make drastic cuts to their carbon footprint, keeping the UK firmly on the road to net zero.”
Part of the UK’s EV choice will be on show today at SMMT Drive Live, where media will put the very latest car models through their paces. Reflecting the industry’s direction of travel, electrified models for nine in 10 of the vehicles available to test drive this year, and more than half (58.2%) are pure electric.
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