► Jaecoo 7 tops sales charts in March
► EV sales reach record 22.6 per cent, but lags behind mandate
► Concerns about knock-on effects of Iranian conflict
The Jaecoo 7 was the UK’s most popular new car in March, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The Chinese SUV clocked up 10,064 registrations in March, the most important month of the year for car sales in Britain as it’s one of two months when a new number plate is introduced – a ‘26’ plate in this instance.
It puts the Jaecoo ahead of usual best-sellers, such as the Ford Puma (9,193 registrations) and Nissan Qashqai (8,718), although the Puma just remains ahead on a year-to-date level, with 16,128 registrations compared to 15,569 for the Jaecoo 7 throughout 2026 so far.
The Jaecoo 7’s popularity is being driven by its affordable pricing, a well-established dealer network and – principally – its Range Rover-lite styling.
Chinese car manufacturers recorded an impressive performance across the board, and especially BYD, which saw registrations climb by 134 per cent to 15,162 units, overtaking volume brands such as Hyundai and Peugeot. Combined, Chinese car markers (not including ‘western’ brands manufacturing cars in China, such as Polestar and Mini) registered 58,194 cars in March in the UK, taking more than 15 per cent of the market.
With more than 380,000 cars sold in March, it was the best month for new car registrations since before the Covid pandemic, with sales rising 6.6 per cent compared to 2025.
Electric cars continued to rise in popularity, taking a record 22.6 per cent share of the market, though lag well behind the government’s electric car targets, with the ZEV mandate requiring a 33 per cent EV sales share by the end of 2026.
Plug-in hybrids saw the largest percentage increase, with registrations up 47 per cent to take a 13 per cent share of the market, largely driven by more affordable Chinese PHEVs, such as the Jaecoo 7.
While the SMMT welcomed the boost in sales, it expressed caution about the outlook of the year as a knock-on effect of the conflict in Iran.
Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, said: ‘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.
‘Against this backdrop, and with the EV market falling further away from mandated levels despite record levels of incentives, an urgent review of the transition is required to secure a sustainable market, economic growth and the UK’s net zero ambitions.’
Context:
Chinese SUV Jaecoo 7 outsold traditional favorites like Ford Puma with 10,064 March registrations.
Context:
Chinese brands now control over 15% of UK car market, marking a major shift in consumer preferences.
Context:
March is crucial for UK car sales as it introduces new number plates, driving higher purchase volumes.
