UK new-car registrations rose 13.7% year-on-year to 94,236 in August 2026, extending the market’s recovery toward pre-pandemic levels and marking a ninth consecutive period of growth, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said. Plug-in hybrid registrations increased 39.8% to 13,707, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) rose 27.7% to 28,063, and hybrid electric vehicles climbed 26.3% to 11,940. The gains offset a 2.5% decline in petrol registrations to 36,048. BEVs accounted for about 30% of August registrations, below Britain’s 33% zero-emission vehicle mandate for 2026, while their share for the year was 26%. Separate New AutoMotive data had indicated a 17.5% annual increase in overall registrations, reflecting differences in data sources and calculation methods.