New car sales in the UK climbed 9.2 percent during the first half of 2026, with registrations reaching 1.138 million units driven largely by a strong performance in June.
Electrified models continue to drive growth, with electric and plug-in hybrid registrations jumping 26.6 percent and 38.4 percent respectively. Year to date, electric cars have captured a 25 percent market share, a notable increase from 21.6 percent in the same period last year.
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In June, electric vehicles accounted for three in every ten new cars sold. The government’s ZEV mandate aims for faster adoption, but the SMMT has warned that forcing more electric vehicles on consumers to meet targets may be damaging demand. Natural uptake hasn’t grown at the pace expected, creating friction between regulatory goals and buyer behavior. This disconnect is visible in the uneven performance across brands, where some manufacturers are struggling to find buyers while others see their sales numbers climb.
Tesla has experienced a resurgence in 2026, driven by entry-level models and aggressive pricing. The Model Y and Model 3 were the top-selling cars in June, with overall registrations up 22 percent for the period. While the company often ships large batches of vehicles that skew monthly figures, the sustained growth suggests a shift in consumer sentiment away from the political controversies surrounding its leadership.
The Chery group has emerged as the standout success story among Chinese manufacturers. The Omoda and Jaecoo brands, along with the upcoming Lepas, have resonated strongly with British buyers. The Jaecoo 7 has become the UK’s third best-selling car with 23,840 units sold in the first half of 2026. Combined with the Jaecoo 5 and 8, the brand has sold 34,067 vehicles, only slightly behind traditional European heavyweights like Renault.
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Chinese firms now hold more than 15 percent of the UK new car market, representing nearly 175,000 units. This growth is primarily driven by Chery, Omoda, and Jaecoo, with the Chery Group leading the charge.
Domestic manufacturers have also seen mixed results. Ford remains resilient, with the Puma remaining the UK’s most popular new car by a wide margin and the Transit Custom continuing to lead the van sector. In contrast, DS has struggled mightily; despite launching the No.8 and No.4, the brand registered just 112 cars in six months, a decline of 88 percent. Fiat and Peugeot have also seen sales drop by 39 percent and 14 percent respectively, while Mazda has reported a 21 percent decline as it waits for new models like the CX-5 and Mazda 6e to reverse the trend.
