UK registrations of battery electric vehicles have hit a new record, with 99,201 units reaching the road in the latest reporting period, as Chinese manufacturer BYD climbed to second place in the EV sales rankings behind Volkswagen.

The milestone marks another step forward for the electric vehicle market, which has continued to gather pace despite ongoing debate about charging infrastructure, affordability and the pace of the UK's transition away from petrol and diesel cars. Breaking through the 99,000 mark for registrations in a single month is the strongest performance the segment has recorded to date, underlining the extent to which electric models are now becoming a mainstream choice for private and fleet buyers alike.

Volkswagen retained its position at the top of the EV registrations table, a reflection of the German manufacturer's long-standing investment in its electric range and its established dealer network across the UK. But it is BYD's rise to second place that will attract most attention from industry watchers. The Shenzhen-based manufacturer has expanded aggressively in Europe over the past couple of years, bringing a broad range of competitively priced electric and hybrid models to market and investing heavily in building out its UK retail presence.

BYD's climb up the rankings is part of a wider pattern of Chinese manufacturers gaining ground in Western markets, where they have been able to undercut established brands on price while still offering strong levels of equipment and technology. That has put pressure on legacy manufacturers to respond with sharper pricing and finance offers of their own, accelerating the broader shift towards electrification across the new car market.

The record registration figures will be welcomed by manufacturers and dealers working towards the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which requires a rising proportion of new cars sold in the UK each year to be zero-emission. Hitting mandated targets has been a persistent source of concern for the industry, with some manufacturers relying on discounting and incentives to boost EV uptake and avoid financial penalties.

Analysts will be watching closely to see whether BYD can consolidate its position in the coming months, or whether other Chinese and established European brands can close the gap. With more electric models due to launch at various price points over the rest of the year, competition in the UK EV market looks set to intensify further, with buyers potentially benefiting from sharper pricing and a wider choice of vehicles as a result.

Source: AM-online

Before this, we covered: UK car industry caught between China and EU as tariff pressure mounts