Car Sales Rise for Some in 2026
New car sales in the UK have increased by 9.2 per cent in the first six months of 2026, with a total of 1.138m new cars registered, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
Electrified cars drive growth, with EV and plug-in hybrid vehicles jumping in popularity by 26.6 and 38.4 per cent respectively, helped by a strong June.
Despite the positive numbers, the SMMT warns of underlying pressures facing the industry, such as natural EV demand failing to grow at the pace expected.
The Chery group is the biggest success story in terms of a Chinese car maker launching in the UK, with brands such as Chery, Omoda, and Jaecoo going down well with Brits.
The Jaecoo brand scores the most, with the Jaecoo 7 currently being the UK’s third best-selling car in the first half of 2026, with 23,840 examples sold.
Tesla has had a turbulent few years, but the firm is having a resurgence in 2026, driven by keen offers and the introduction of cheaper, entry-level versions.
In June, the Model Y and Model 3 were the first and most popular new cars in the month, with registrations up 22 per cent so far in 2026.
Ford’s sales paint a very different picture, with the Puma continuing to be the UK’s most popular new car, and the Transit Custom retaining its position as the number one van.
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DS has had a poor start to the year, with only 112 cars being registered in six months, and sales down 88 per cent.
More than 15 per cent of new cars sold in the first six months come from Chinese firms.
The UK car market continues to evolve.
They will likely see more Chinese car firms making an impact, although it’s still unclear how they’ll affect the overall market.
The SMMT’s warning about underlying pressures in the industry serves as a reminder that despite the positive sales figures, there are still challenges to be addressed.
For now, the focus is on the winners and losers of the first half of 2026, with the Chery group and Tesla being two of the biggest success stories.
The rest of the year will be key.
It will be interesting to see how the market develops and which brands will come out on top, with consumers considering new car features and other factors.
