Best-selling cars in March – Chinese car tops UK chart
Car changing is a big deal
New car registrations rose 6.6% in March to 380,627 vehicles, according to industry data, as a Chinese model overtook a popular SUV to become the month’s best-seller.
The UK’s new car market saw its strongest March in six years, but one of the standout headlines is a major shift at the top of the sales chart – with a Chinese-built SUV, the Jaecoo 7, overtaking the long-time favourite Ford Puma.
New car sales in March were up 6.6% with 380,627 new vehicles registered, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). That marks the best March – and strongest month overall – for the UK market since 2019.
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Chinese SUV tops the chart
In a notable moment for the UK car market, the Jaecoo 7 – a Chinese-manufactured SUV – became the best-selling car in March, overtaking the long-established Ford Puma, which was the best-selling car of 2025.
The results highlight how quickly newer Chinese entrants are gaining traction with UK buyers, particularly in the fast-growing SUV and electric car classes.
Here are the top 10 models sold in March 2026:
| 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 |
Electric and hybrid models hit record levels
March was also a record-breaking month for electrified vehicles, which reached 196,059 registrations in total.
Electric cars rose 24.2% year-on-year to 86,120 units, while plug-in hybrids surged 46.9%. Hybrid electric vehicles also continued to grow steadily, growing 7.3% year-on-year.
Despite this progress, pure electric cars still accounted for just 22.6% of the new car market in March. That’s below the level required to stay on track for the UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, which targets 33% by the end of 2026.
Industry pressure builds
While manufacturers have invested heavily in electrification, industry leaders warn that rising costs – from the battery to energy and charging – are making the transition more difficult than expected.
There are also concerns that the war in Iran, which may spark more interest in electric cars, risks pushing up energy and supply chain costs, increasing the cost of living as a result.
Government support measures, including the Electric Car Grant, have helped sustain demand, but manufacturers say incentives and discounting are doing much of the heavy lifting.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, 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.”
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