► Car sales data for the first half of 2026 revealed ► Strong growth for electrified and Chinese cars ► But other brands struggle
New car sales continued to climb in the first half of 2026, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Helped by a strong June, registrations increased by 9.2 per cent in the first six months of the year to a total of 1.138m new cars.
Electrified cars continue to be the driver of growth, with EV and plug-in hybrid vehicles jumping in popularity by 26.6 and 38.4 per cent respectively.
Yet despite the seemingly positive numbers, the SMMT has warned of underlying pressures facing the industry, such as natural EV demand failing to grow at the pace expected and the damage of forcing more EVs on consumers to meet targets.
But what were the winners and losers during the first six months of 2026? Let’s take a look.
The Chery group is unquestionably the biggest success story in terms of a Chinese car maker launching in the UK, with brands such as Chery, Omoda and Jaecoo – and soon to be Lepas – going down a storm with Brits.
But it’s the Range Rover-esque Jaecoo brand that is scoring 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. Combined with the smaller Jaecoo 5 and larger seven-seat Jaecoo 8, it takes the brand’s total so far this year up to 34,067, only just behind the likes of Renault.
While electric car uptake isn’t keeping up with the levels set out in the government’s ZEV mandate, growth in EVs continues at a steady rate.
Year to date, electric cars have reached a 25 per cent share (up from 21.6 per cent in the same period in 2025), but in June three-in-10 new cars were electric, which is more than hybrids and plug-in hybrids combined.
Tesla has had a turbulent few years, with the initial shine of its impressive EVs rubbing off and a lack of new product – as well as buyers put off by Elon Musk’s involvement in politics – meaning many early Tesla owners have now been looking elsewhere.
Yet the firm has been having somewhat of a resurgence in 2026, driven by a spate of 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, and though the figures should be taken with a slight pinch of salt as Tesla often gets large boatloads of cars that skew the figures, its registrations are still up 22 per cent so far in 2026.
There’s been a lot said about Ford’s demise in Europe, but its sales still paint a very different picture. Year to date the Puma continues to be the UK’s most popular new car – and by some margin – with 29,942 registered in the first half of the year.
Its larger Kuga SUV doesn’t make the 10 best-sellers list, but isn’t far behind. Meanwhile on the van front, the ever-popular Transit Custom retains its position as the number one van, with 23,000 examples registered to June – and the big Transit in second place with 11,616 registered.
While many car manufacturers have reported sales growth in 2026 so far, there have been quite a few that have struggled. DS, despite introducing its new No.8 and new No.4, has had a really poor start to the year, with only 112 cars being registered in six months, and sales down 88 per cent.
Fellow Stellantis brands Fiat and Peugeot have also had a disappointing start to the year, with sales dropping 39 and 14 per cent respectively. Mazda has also had a slow start to the year, with sales down 21 per cent, with the firm hoping its new CX-5 and Mazda 6e electric saloon will see it return to more positive numbers.
Chinese car firms continue to grow in the UK market, with more than 15 per cent of new cars sold in the first six months coming from firms in China or brands we now deem as Chinese.
This amounts to almost 175,000 cars, although if you read into the figures further, more than 140,000 of sales come from only three brands: BYD, MG and the Chery Group. Meanwhile other Chinese car brands, such as Xpeng, GWM and Changan, are failing to entice buyers in.
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