In 2021, the Tesla Model 3 was the top-selling electric car in Britain while the BMW 3-Series was the most popular plug-in hybrid model in the UK.
In full calendar year 2021, the Tesla Model 3 was by far the best-selling electric car model in Britain. It was followed in the UK by the Kia Niro-e and the Volkswagen ID.3. The BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz A-Class were the top-selling plug-in hybrid cars in Britain in 2021.
Latest British Car Sales Data: 2023: Market Overview, Brands, Models, Electric; 2022-2008.
Electric and Hybrid Car Sales in Britain in 2021
Although the British new car market in 2021 expanded by only 1% to 1,647,181 cars, battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars dramatically increased sales and market share.
In Britain, 2021 was the most successful year in history for electric vehicle uptake as more new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) were registered than over the previous five years combined. 190,727 new BEVs joined Britain’s roads, along with 114,554 plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), meaning 18.5% of all new cars registered in 2021 can be plugged in. This is in addition to the 147,246 hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) registered which took a further 8.9% market share in a bumper year for electrified car registrations, with 27.5% of the total market now electrified in some form.
According to the SMMT, more than 40% of models are now available as plug-ins. Indeed, the shift in customer preference for these new technologies continues apace, with December seeing BEVs take a record market share in a non-locked down trading month, accounting for 25.5% of all new registrations.
The UK finished 2021 as the third-largest European market for new car registrations but the second largest by volume for plug-in vehicles and the second largest for BEVs. It is only in ninth position overall, however, in Europe for BEVs by market share, underlining the progress still to be made, despite the UK having among the most ambitious targets of all major markets with the end of the sale of new petrol and diesel cars scheduled for 2030.
Best-Selling Electric Car Models in Britain in 2021
The ten most popular battery-electric car models in the UK in 2021 were:
It was no surprise that the Tesla Model 3 was the most popular electric car in Britain in 2021 but the lead over the other cars certainly was. More than a quarter of all Model 3 cars registered in the UK in 2021 occurred in December, which boosted the Model 3 to also the second most popular car model in Britain in 2021 overall — only the Vauxhall Corsa sold in higher numbers.
The Kia e-Niro was the second most popular electric car in the UK in 2021 followed by the Volkswagen ID.3. The aging Nissan Leaf still managed fourth place while the Renault Zoe struggled more again newer competition at eighth.
Best-Selling Plug-In Hybrid Car Models in Britain in 2021
The ten top-selling plug-in hybrid car models in the UK in 2021 were:
The BMW 3-Series was the best-selling plug-in hybrid vehicle in Britain in 2021. It was followed by the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, which was the fourth most popular car model overall in the UK in 2021. Plug-in hybrids tended to be pricy models and bought as company cars to take advantage of tax incentives.
Latest British Car Sales Data: 2023: Market Overview, Brands, Models, Electric; 2022-2008.
