Best-selling cars in June revealed: Tesla knocks UK favourite off top spot

The UK’s new car market enjoyed its strongest June since before the pandemic, with more than 213,000 new cars hitting the road as drivers continued to embrace electric models.

Latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show registrations rose to 213,166 vehicles, up 11.4% compared with the same month last year – the best June performance since 2019.

Electric cars were a major driver of that growth, taking a record 30% share of the market during the month. More than half of all new cars registered in June were electrified, including battery electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid models.

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What were the best-selling cars in June?

June’s new car market saw the Tesla Model Y claim the top spot from the long-reigning Ford Puma, with 6,765 sales last month.

Elon Musk’s prized EV brand even saw its other model available in the UK, the Model 3, knock the UK’s favourite down to third place, with 5,408 sales.

Tesla’s dominance this month is a result of the way the American car maker delivers its cars to the UK in bulk, meaning its monthly sales can fluctuate wildly.

March’s surprise leader, the Jaecoo 7, dropped to seventh place with 3,145 sales after coming in fourth place last month. Meanwhile, the Ford Puma continues its strong performance in 2026, trailing closely behind the two Teslas.

Here are the top 10 models sold in June 2026:

What do the figures show?

The latest figures suggest motorists are responding to a growing choice of electric models, continued manufacturer discounts and higher fuel prices, which have encouraged more buyers to consider switching to an EV.

However, despite June’s record performance, the industry says the pace of electric vehicle adoption remains below the level needed to meet government targets.

Battery electric vehicles have accounted for 25% of all new car registrations so far this year, which is short of the government’s 33% target under the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate. To achieve that goal, EVs would need to account for more than 40% of registrations during the remainder of 2026.

Manufacturers say they have invested billions in developing new electric cars while continuing to offer significant discounts to encourage buyers. But they argue consumer demand is not increasing quickly enough, placing pressure on profitability, investment and future competitiveness.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, said: “June’s performance is very strong, showing EV uptake is growing, with battery electric cars reaching their highest market share this year and more than half of buyers choosing electrified models. But even these record levels are still not enough to meet mandated targets.

“Manufacturers are investing billions developing and bringing the vehicles to market – and spending billions more to sell them, yet the market is still not moving fast enough. Reforming the mandate now is essential not just to keep the transition on track but to protect the UK’s competitiveness, attract investment and safeguard jobs.”

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