MIA: EV momentum continues despite economic headwinds

Demand for electrified vehicles continued to strengthen in June as buyers responded to higher fuel costs and greater model availability, despite ongoing economic pressures, the Motor Industry Association (MIA) says.

MIA chief executive Aimee Wiley said two trends had become increasingly evident during the first half of 2026.

“Firstly, the market has strengthened each month despite challenging economic conditions, led by passenger vehicles and supported by gains in light and heavy commercial segments.

“And secondly, plug-in vehicles have continued to command a greater share of the market as the year progresses – against a backdrop of fuel supply concerns and increased model availability.”

New vehicle registrations increased 13.5% year on year to 13,438 units in June, driven by strong passenger vehicle sales and a sharp rise in demand for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Passenger vehicle registrations rose 21% to 9961 units, while heavy commercial registrations increased 23% to 513 units. Light commercial registrations declined 7.1% to 2964 units. Year-to-date registrations reached 71,388 units, up 12.5% on the first six months of 2025.

The association said fuel supply conditions had eased in recent weeks, but economic indicators continued to point to pressure on both households and businesses.

It said the strong performance of BEVs and PHEVs suggested operating costs and fuel price volatility remained key considerations for new vehicle buyers.

Electrified vehicles have gathered momentum since March, when fuel prices began increasing. During June, 2738 BEVs and 1402 PHEVs were registered, compared with 1072 and 911 respectively in the same month last year.

Within the passenger vehicle market, BEVs and PHEVs accounted for 38% of registrations in June – more than one in every three vehicles sold. The MIA said this was the highest share since late 2023, before the Clean Car Discount ended.

Year to date, electrified vehicles have made up 19.7% of passenger vehicle registrations, compared with 9.2% over the same period in 2025.

The MIA said a significant proportion of the growth in passenger BEV registrations had come from private buyers. While it could not verify the reason from registration data alone, it believed some June registrations were likely linked to purchase agreements signed during the recent fuel supply disruption.

Overall, Wiley said the June result reinforced the resilience of the new vehicle market despite continued economic challenges, with passenger vehicles leading growth and electrified models continuing to gain market share.