Boxer Khan says he was robbed at gunpoint in London

Highlights

• Over 2 million new cars registered in UK for first time since pandemic; 23.4 per cent were electric vehicles, below 28 per cent government target.
• Manufacturers offered £11,000 average discount per EV, totalling over £5bn, to meet Zero Emission Vehicles Mandate requirements.
• Industry calls for early review of ZEV Mandate as stricter 33 per cent target looms for 2026 amid rising costs and market challenges.

The UK motor industry has warned that massive discounts on electric vehicles are "unsustainable" despite new car registrations exceeding two million for the first time since the pandemic, with concerns growing over the widening gap between consumer demand and government targets.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reported 2,020,373 new cars were registered in 2025, marking the third consecutive year of growth. However, the figure remains significantly below the 2.3 m vehicles sold in 2019.