EVs: Ford and Mini among manufacturers driving up sales in 2025

Halfway through the year, new analysis of EV sales data from New Automotive has revealed which manufacturers are rising to the challenge of making the shift building the EVs of the future, and which are being left behind.

All of the 10 best performing manufacturers more than doubled their EV sales – and in some cases quadrupled - in the first six months of 2025, compared to the first six months of 2024.

However, while the likes of Ford, Renault and UK-based manufacturer Mini have massively increased EV sales, companies such as Honda, Mazda and Toyota are rapidly being left behind as the world continues to move away from the internal combustion engine, and towards electric cars.

Having struggled in 2024, starting the year with just one model of electric car on sale, Ford has enjoyed the most dramatic increase in the number of EVs that it has sold. EV sales for the legacy manufacturer in the first six months of 2025 were a remarkable 324% higher than the first six months of 2024 with the arrival of new models including the sub-£30k Ford Puma Gen-E.

Mini, which builds many of its electric vehicles at its plant in Oxford, has seen a 160% increase in EV sales.

The rest of the top 10 list is dominated by European manufacturers including Renault (251% increase), Porsche (203%), VW (201%), Skoda (143%), Peugeot (112%), and Cupra (109%).

Japanese manufacturers have seen the worst performance with Honda’s EV sales down 92% in the first 6 months of 2025, compared to the first six months of 2024, and Mazda’s falling 76%. Nissan has seen a 69% fall, but it is currently retooling its factory in Sunderland to build three new models of EV - the new Leaf, the new Qashqai, and the new Juke. These models are likely to drive a significant uptake in Nissan’s EV sales, and help to secure the North East’s status as a hotspot for British EV manufacturing. Toyota has seen EV sales fall 41% and, while BYD saw an increase in sales, Chinese manufacturer MG experienced a 35% fall.

Commenting on the results Colin Walker, Head of Transport at the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said: “Traditional brands are fighting back, dramatically increasing the number of EVs they sell in what is now the world’s fourth largest EV market. Legacy manufacturers are proving more than capable of making the transition to building the electric cars of the future with European manufacturers dominating.

“The more EVs sold today means the larger the pool of second-hand EVs available in about three year’s time and that in turn means more families, the majority of whom buy used cars, getting the opportunity to save hundreds of pounds a year by switching to electric.

“Oxford-based Mini has massively increased its EV sales, while Nissan is in the process of retooling its factory in Sunderland, gearing up to build three new models of EV.

“The stakes for car companies the world over, and the car industry here in the UK, could not be higher. Analysis by CBI Economics shows how the UK’s car industry can only survive and thrive if it makes a rapid transition to building electric vehicles. A refusal to do so, and remaining stuck building the petrol and diesel cars of the past, would be a recipe for mass redundancies and factory closures. The good news for the UK is that, with the likes of Mini, Nissan and Jaguar Land Rover all making decisive shifts towards building EVs, the UK’s car industry has every chance of securing a successful and prosperous future in an electrified world”.

Ben Nelmes, Chief Executive of New Automotive, said: "The race to go electric is on, and our new data separates the sprinters from the stragglers. It is fantastic to see legacy brands like Ford, Renault, and the UK's own Mini delivering for drivers with a colossal surge in EV sales. The message to the laggards is simple: get on and build the brilliant EVs of the future, or prepare to be left behind”.

A report by CBI Economics for the ECIU revealed that a failure by the car industry to make the transition to manufacturing EVs could see its contributions to the UK economy fall by as much as 73%, or £34.1bn, and over 400,000 jobs could be lost. Conversely, economic output could increase by over £16bn, and 167,000 new jobs could be created, if a rapid and successful transition takes place. [1] Government support is critical in avoiding such an outcome, and this includes the provision of a stable and supportive regulatory environment through keeping measures like the ZEV Mandate in place.

ENDS 

Notes to editors:

1. https://www.cbi.org.uk/media/qoxp3pn4/cbi-economics-eciu-ev-sector-report-2024.pdf 

For more information or for interview requests:

George Smeeton, Head of Communications, ECIU, Tel: 07894 571 153, email: george.smeeton@eciu.net