Chinese Car Dominates UK Best-Selling Cars in March
New car registrations in the UK rose 6.6% in March to 380,627 vehicles, according to SMMT data. The month delivered the strongest March and the best month overall since 2019.
A Chinese car dominated the list of UK best-selling cars in March. The Jaecoo 7, a Chinese-built SUV, displaced the Ford Puma at the top of the table.
Market leaders and model rankings
The Jaecoo 7 led March sales with 10,064 registrations. The Ford Puma finished second with 9,193 units.
| Model | Number of sales |
|---|---|
| Jaecoo 7 | 10,064 |
| Ford Puma | 9,193 |
| Nissan Qashqai | 8,718 |
| Kia Sportage | 7,310 |
| Vauxhall Corsa | 6,315 |
| Volvo XC40 | 6,311 |
| MG HS | 6,135 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 5,890 |
| Tesla Model Y | 5,177 |
| BMW 1 Series | 4,936 |
Electrified vehicles reach new highs
Electrified vehicles hit a record 196,059 registrations in March. Battery electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid models all grew.
Pure electric car registrations rose 24.2% year-on-year to 86,120 units. Plug-in hybrids surged 46.9% year-on-year.
Hybrid electric vehicles grew by 7.3% compared with the prior year. Pure electric cars made up 22.6% of the March market.
Policy targets and gap to ZEV mandate
The Zero Emission Vehicle mandate aims for 33% of new cars by end-2026. March’s electric share remained below that target.
Industry pressures and outlook
Manufacturers warn that higher costs are complicating the shift to electrification. Battery, energy and charging expenses have risen.
Analysts flagged risks from the conflict in Iran. The disruption could push up energy and supply chain costs, and hit consumer confidence.
Government support, including the Electric Car Grant, has helped sustain demand. But industry leaders say incentives and discounting are carrying much of the load.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said March sales partly reflected orders placed before the Iran conflict. He called for an urgent review of the transition to secure a sustainable market and the UK’s net zero goals.
What this means for buyers
The market shows fast adoption of new Chinese models and growing interest in electrified cars. Buyers will see more choice across SUVs and EVs.
However, cost pressures and policy gaps could affect prices and supply. The coming months will test the market’s momentum.
For further coverage of the UK auto market, Filmogaz.com will continue to monitor sales trends and industry responses.
