UK New Car Sales Post Strongest July Since 2019

UK new car registrations rose 11.7% year-on-year to 156,571 units in July 2026, the strongest July since 2019, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The increase marked an eighth consecutive month of growth, extending the market's recovery toward pre-pandemic levels. Demand increased across all buyer segments, with private registrations up 12.6%, fleet sales rising 9.5% to account for 59.9% of the market, and the lower-volume business registrations surging 61.3%. Electrified vehicles continued to drive growth. Battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations jumped 44.5% to a record July level, lifting their market share to 27.5%, while plug-in hybrid and hybrid registrations increased 33.6% and 11.6%, respectively, accounting for 14.9% and 13.2% of the market. The SMMT now expects BEVs to make up 27.4% of total registrations this year, still below the UK's 33% zero-emission vehicle mandate target.

UK new car sales surged by 11.4% year-on-year to 213,166 units in June 2026, the best performance for the month since 2019, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Growth was broad-based across all customer segments. Registrations by private buyers increased by 12.5%, fleet deliveries rose 10.5%, and the smaller business segment recorded the strongest gain at 17.1%. Fleet customers remained the dominant source of demand, representing 59.5% of all new car registrations. The ongoing shift toward electrification continued to support the market, underpinned by manufacturers' investment in a broader portfolio of low- and zero-emission models and the expansion of brands operating in the UK. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) gained further momentum, increasing their market share to 30.0%, the highest so far this year, reflecting seasonal quarter-end volumes and stronger demand amid higher fuel prices. PHEVs took 12.5% of the market, while HEVs accounted for 14.0%.

UK new car sales climbed 7.1% year-over-year to 160,662 units in May 2026, the strongest May performance since 2019, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Private buyer demand led the growth, with registrations jumping 17.2% as consumers took advantage of competitive offers from a record range of brands and a 6.4% increase in model choices, including a 25.6% rise in battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales year-to-date. Fleet demand grew modestly by 1.8%, accounting for 57.1% of all registrations, while the smaller business sector declined by 18.8%, though the volume drop was marginal (720 units). Consumer demand continued to shift toward new technologies, with petrol and diesel car registrations falling by 7.1% and 2.2%, respectively. Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) uptake rose 1.8%, plug-in hybrid deliveries surged 23.9% to capture a 13.8% market share, and BEV registrations increased 34.2%, reaching a 27.3% market share, the highest recorded in 2026 so far.