Best-selling cars in July revealed: UK favourite regains overall crown as retro-style hatchback leads EV chart

Britain’s new car market enjoyed another strong month in July, with registrations rising by 11.7% compared with the same month last year.

There were 156,571 new cars registered during the month, marking the eighth consecutive month of growth as the market continues its recovery towards pre-pandemic levels, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The data also shows electric car registrations jumped by 44.5%, giving battery electric vehicles (EVs) a record 27.5% share of the market. Plug-in hybrid registrations also performed strongly, rising by 33.6%, while conventional hybrid sales increased by 11.6%.

Private buyers returned to dealerships in greater numbers too, with registrations up 12.6%, while fleet sales – which account for around six in every 10 new cars sold – rose by 9.5%.

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What were the best-selling cars in July?

July also saw a shake-up in the best-selling cars chart, with the Ford Puma reclaiming the title of the UK’s best-selling new car after selling 3,531 units. This comes after the Tesla Model Y topped the rankings in June.

The biggest surprise, however, is the continued rise of Jaecoo. The fast-growing Chinese brand now has two models in the UK’s top 10, with the Jaecoo 7 and Jaecoo 5 both securing places on the bestseller list.

The Jaecoo 7 recorded 2,709 new registrations, while the Jaecoo 5 followed closely with 2,481. It’s a sign of just how quickly new entrants are making their mark on the British market.

Here are the top 10 models sold in July 2026:

Electric cars continue to grow – but challenges remain

Despite record EV registrations, the industry says the market is still not growing quickly enough to meet the government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate targets.

The SMMT now expects electric cars to account for 27.4% of all new car registrations in 2026, an improvement on previous forecasts but still well below the government’s 33% target.

Manufacturers have continued to offer significant discounts and incentives to encourage buyers to switch to electric cars, but the industry warns this approach is becoming increasingly expensive and difficult to sustain.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said July’s strong EV performance reflected the industry’s huge investment in zero-emission vehicles but warned manufacturers could not continue absorbing billions of pounds in discounts to meet regulatory targets.

He added: “The sector’s commitment to decarbonisation is not in doubt, but its ability to remain viable – and attract investment for an EV future – is under intense pressure. A sustainable transition will not happen merely by compelling supply when underlying demand is not keeping pace, despite year-on-year growth.

“We need urgent reform of the regulation, otherwise Britain risks undermining its competitiveness and the jobs and livelihoods that depend on this industry.”

Among the best-selling electric cars in July, French carmaker Renault claimed the top spot with the retro-styled Renault 5, recording 1,805 registrations. The Kia EV3 came second with 1,691 registrations, while the Jaecoo E5 rounded out the podium with 1,291.

Here are the top 10 best-selling electric cars in July 2026:

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