A sharp rise in private buyer demand and continued growth in EV registrations helped drive the UK new car market to its strongest May performance since 2019.
New figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show registrations rose 7.1% to 160,662 units during May, with consumers increasingly attracted by a wider choice of models and competitive manufacturer incentives.
Private registrations rose 17.2% to 65,781 units, substantially outpacing fleet growth of 1.8%. As a result, the private market increased its share of total registrations from 37.4% to 40.9%.
The SMMT attributed the growth to increasingly competitive offers and expanding model choice.
The number of models available to UK buyers has increased by 6.4%, including a 25.6% increase in battery electric vehicle (BEV) offerings since the start of the year.
The strongest growth came from the electric vehicle market, where registrations rose 34.2% to 43,931 units. BEVs accounted for 27.3% of all new car registrations in May, their highest monthly market share of 2026 so far.
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Top 10 model registrations YTD
| Rank | Model | Registrations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ford Puma | 24,358 |
| 2 | Kia Sportage | 21,274 |
| 3 | Jaecoo 7 | 20,695 |
| 4 | Nissan Qashqai | 18,558 |
| 5 | Vauxhall Corsa | 15,863 |
| 6 | Volkswagen Golf | 14,658 |
| 7 | Volvo XC40 | 13,478 |
| 8 | MG HS | 13,475 |
| 9 | Mini Cooper | 13,291 |
| 10 | Volkswagen Tiguan | 12,647 |
Alternative fuel vehicles represented over 50% of new registrations
Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) also recorded strong growth, rising 23.9% to 22,167 units and taking a 13.8% market share.
Together, BEVs, PHEVs and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) represented more than half of all new cars registered during the month, underlining the pace at which the market is moving away from conventional petrol and diesel powertrains.
In contrast, petrol registrations fell 7.1% to 66,223 units, reducing market share from 47.5% to 41.2%.
Diesel volumes declined 2.2% to 7,622 units and accounted for just 4.7% of registrations.
The SMMT said the growth in electric vehicle demand reflected expanding model choice, sustained manufacturer discounting and support from the Government’s Electric Car Grant.
For retailers, the figures indicate that consumer appetite for electric vehicles continues to strengthen when supported by attractive pricing and increased availability across multiple market segments.
However, the industry remains some distance from the levels required under the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate.
Despite May’s strong performance, BEVs accounted for 23.9% of registrations year-to-date, which is still below the 33% share required this year under the regulation.
Gap remains between demand and ZEV target for 2026
The SMMT warned that the gap between market demand and mandated targets continues to place pressure on manufacturers, many of whom are relying on incentives and discounting to stimulate EV uptake.
Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, said: “Britain’s car buyers are responding to a market offering more choice than ever, from both new and familiar brands, resulting in a robust May.
“The EV transition is progressing, but consumer uptake still lags behind even today’s targets, let alone the ambition set out in the latest Carbon Budget.
“While industry shares the long-term ambition, the pathway to Net Zero must be credible.
“It cannot come at the cost of lost competitiveness and deindustrialisation.
“A review of the transition is now urgent to ensure ambition matches market realities and we have a sustainable path to road transport decarbonisation.”
Sue Robinson, National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) chief executive, described the latest figures as encouraging and demonstrated the resilience of the UK automotive market.
She said: “It is particularly positive to see continued demand for electrified vehicles as consumers increasingly consider lower emission motoring options due to the continued high price of fuel.
“Franchised dealers continue to play a vital role in supporting customers through the transition to zero emission vehicles, investing significantly in facilities, training and consumer education. We hope this positive momentum continues throughout the remainder of the year.”