September new-car sales: electric, hybrid and petrol choices are shifting

22 October 2026

FCAI’s release of 6 October 2026 records 102,924 September sales through VFACTS, up 0.9% on September 2025. It also reports battery electric vehicles at 24.2% of the market on an all-source basis, which includes separately reported sales.

Those reporting bases should not be mixed. A VFACTS total and an all-source percentage answer different questions. The release also reports year-on-year growth of 122.7% for plug-in hybrids and 20.7% for conventional hybrids, showing that electrification is not a single type of ownership.

For a household considering its next car, start with how the vehicle will actually be used: typical journeys, parking arrangements, charging access, luggage requirements and maintenance support. A conventional hybrid, a plug-in hybrid and a battery electric vehicle have different practical requirements.

Monthly popularity is useful context, but it is not a prediction of your running costs or resale value. Compare the exact models and written ownership information. Bring the vehicle’s make, model and powertrain details to any servicing discussion so the workshop can confirm what it can support.