A Chinese car bearing a striking resemblance to a Range Rover Evoque but costing £14,000 less has become the UK's most-sold motor.
Figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reveal 10,064 Jaecoo 7s were registered last month - surpassing all rivals.
This outstripped 9,193 Ford Pumas and 8,718 Nissan Qashqais which secured second and third place respectively, while the Kia Sportage dropped from the top three with 7,310 units sold last month.
A standard Jaecoo 7 retails at around £30,165. By contrast, Range Rover's website lists an S variant of the iconic Evoque SUV from around £44,430.
Beyond March proving successful for Jaecoo, it represented one of the most robust months for new electric car registrations. While some might attribute this to the Iranian conflict, SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes has clarified this assumption is incorrect, reports the Express.
In a statement, he outlined why: "However, the headlines belie the costs incurred and the challenges involved. Much of March's performance will be from orders placed before the start of the Iran conflict, which threatens to raise the cost of living, undermining consumer confidence."
Nevertheless, should the conflict persist, April could witness a further surge in electric vehicle adoption as petrol and diesel prices escalate relative to electricity costs. With growing numbers of motorists contemplating the switch to electric, specialists have been offering advice on what to consider when purchasing a new electric vehicle and which common misconceptions are simply untrue.
In a Facebook post, RAC Mobile Mechanic Bradley tackled one widespread myth suggesting electric cars are more difficult to maintain.
Putting the record straight, he explained: "I wouldn't say they're more expensive to maintain than a petrol or diesel vehicle. If anything, you could argue, they're a little bit less to maintain, because they don't have so many moving parts.
"There are no spark plugs to change, for example, like you would have on a petrol engine. So, no, they're not necessarily more expensive to maintain."
The RAC also pointed out that while purchasing a brand-new electric vehicle may require a heftier initial outlay compared to a petrol or diesel equivalent, drivers could ultimately save considerable sums over time.
The motoring organisation stated on their website: "If you're in the market for an electric car, you might find the upfront price or monthly leasing costs are higher than an equivalent petrol or diesel model. But don't let that put you off.
"That increase in cost can be cancelled out by the lower running costs of an EV. Everything from road tax to refuelling costs and even maintenance and repairs can be substantially lower in an electric car."
Context:
Chinese Jaecoo 7 outsold Ford and Nissan to become UK's top car in March with over 10,000 sales.
Context:
This signals major shift as affordable Chinese brands challenge established European automakers in key markets.
Context:
Electric car registrations also surged in March, with EVs offering lower maintenance costs than traditional engines.