British battery-electric vehicle registrations jumped 38% in June to 64,440 units, pushing EVs to nearly 30% of the new car market — their strongest monthly performance outside seasonal peaks, according to New AutoMotive data released Friday.
The overall new car market grew 15% year-over-year to 215,921 units, but EVs did the heavy lifting. Tesla posted a 42% rebound in registrations during the month, a signal that the automaker may finally be climbing off the floor in Europe after a rough start to the year.
The 30% EV share marks a significant milestone for the UK, which has mandated a phase-out of new internal combustion engine car sales by 2035. The surge was driven by a combination of new model launches, price cuts, and expanded charging infrastructure.
Industry observers caution that June's performance could be a seasonal outlier, as automakers often push registrations to meet mid-year quotas. Sustained growth will depend on continued consumer incentives and battery cost declines.
Tesla's 42% gain suggests its aggressive pricing strategy and refreshed Model Y are gaining traction in the UK, but the brand still faces stiff competition from Chinese and European rivals flooding the market with lower-cost EVs.