UK new car sales hit a nine-year high as electric vehicles become the best-selling model on the market

From the Newshound archive · first published 2 October 2026.

Britain's new car market has surged to its highest level in nine years, with electric vehicles leading the charge and one EV model named as the country's best-selling new car. The milestone marks a dramatic shift in buying habits, with EVs outpacing diesel and petrol rivals in a market that has rebounded strongly.

Ireland's EV grant scheme has been hit by a separate scandal, with just €109,000 of €3.9 million overpaid to car dealers recovered so far.

The Irish overpayment arose because a self-declaration system failed to catch dealerships linked by ownership breaching state aid limits of €200,000 over any three-year period.

Some 80 dealerships are believed to have received grants above the permitted threshold under the scheme, which has paid out more than €35 million for demonstration vehicles since 2020.