The number of petrol cars on UK roads has reached its peak as the UK now braces for dramatic declines in numbers over the next decade.
The projections comes after roughly 18.7 million petrol cars were recorded on UK roads with the figure now expected to plummet to 11.1 million by 2034.
This significant shift comes as drivers increasingly turn to electric vehicles, with the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicle sales looming on the horizon.
Electric vehicles are set to surge from their current level of 1.25 million to 13.7 million by 2034, according to new reports.
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Auto Trader predicts petrol cars will decline in sales rapidly over the next 10 years
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During the same period, diesel vehicles will see a sharp decline, dropping from 10 million to 4.3 million vehicles, the report estimated.
The drop away from petrol and diesel cars will also help spur on the electric vehicle movement which has been backed by numerous Government incentives.
The affordability of electric vehicles, which was previously a barrier, has become less of an issue with the used car market, with Auto Trader data showing one in three used EVs now priced under £20,000. This represents a 25 per cent increase compared to 2023 levels.
Three-to-five-year-old electric vehicles are now frequently matching or undercutting the prices of their petrol and diesel equivalents.
These mid-aged electric vehicles are proving particularly popular according to new reports, selling in just 19 days on average.
Auto Trader said it now forecasts the new car market will grow by two per cent to 1.98 million vehicles in 2025.
This marks a third consecutive year of growth, though remains 14 per cent below pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019, when 2.31 million new cars were registered.
Electric vehicles are expected to capture 23 per cent of the new car market in 2025, up from approximately 18 per cent in 2024. However, this falls short of the 28 per cent target set under the Zero Emissions Vehicle mandate, which increased from 22 per cent this year.
Ian Plummer, Commercial Director at Auto Trader, described the peak in petrol vehicles as “a genuine landmark for the UK.”
“We expect to see a seismic shift in British motoring over the next decade as the number of petrol cars falls by nearly half and EVs take a much bigger share,” he said.
Plummer noted that these changes are occurring despite various industry challenges. “All this is happening against the backdrop of exceptionally strong used car demand despite a range of challenges for the industry, not least the introduction of ZEV targets, constrained supply, changing finance rules, and the Budget,” he added.
The used car market is expected to maintain its strong growth trajectory into 2025, with sales projected to rise from 7.61 million to 7.70 million.
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Plummer added: “We’re seeing record levels of engagement on our platform, rapid speed of sale, and the stabilising of retail prices. And with the more attractively priced and available stock in recent months helping to fuel new car interest, the overall retail market is entering 2025 on a strong footing.”
