The UK recorded more than 350,000 new-car registrations in September 2026, according to preliminary figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). That was up more than 12% year on year and the country’s strongest September since 2017. The arrival of the new 76 registration plate helped drive the monthly increase.
Jaecoo’s 7 SUV was the month’s most-registered model on the new plate, with around 10,800 registrations. Across the first nine months of the year, nearly 39,500 had been registered, putting it second in the UK’s 2026 model rankings so far. Jaecoo, which entered the UK market last year, held 3.4% of the market; together with sister brand Omoda, it registered more cars than Ford and Audi combined.
Electrified vehicles accounted for more than half of September’s registrations: battery-electric cars made up 28%, while hybrids and plug-in hybrids together took 30%. Petrol’s share fell to 38%, from 45% a year earlier, and diesel remained at 4%.
The figures show stronger demand for electrified cars, but the industry remains short of the 2026 ZEV Mandate requirement for one-third of sales to be fully electric. Manufacturers have been using discounts to support EV sales, while the government has signalled possible changes to the mandate. It has nevertheless maintained its planned 2030 end date for new pure-petrol and diesel cars and the 2035 deadline for hybrids.