US EditionUK new car market posts strong March, but Middle East turmoil clouds outlook
Battery electric vehicles reached their best month by volume, but 22.6% market share remained below the 33% government target for 2026, SMMT said.
- Total car registrations rose 6.6% year-on-year to 380,627 units in March, marking Britain's strongest March since 2019, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said.
- Battery electric vehicles achieved record monthly volumes, though their market share remained at 22.6%, well below the government-mandated 33% target for 2026.
- BYD registrations jumped nearly 134% to 15,162 units, outpacing Tesla, which saw registrations rise 20% to 8,599 units, according to SMMT data.
- SMMT Chief Mike Hawes said "headlines belie the costs incurred and the challenges involved," noting much of March's performance stemmed from orders placed before the Iran war began on February 28.
- Jamie Hamilton, automotive partner at Deloitte, said electric vehicle enquiries are increasing as consumers view them as "an attractive alternative to petrol and diesel vehicles" amid fuel cost uncertainty.
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UK new car market posts strong March, but cloudy outlook
Britain's market for new cars posted its strongest March since 2019, but the outlook looks cloudy as most of the sales reflected orders placed before the Iran war began and mask growing concern about consumer confidence and affordability.
UK new car market posts strong March, but Middle East turmoil clouds outlook
Britain's market for new cars posted its strongest March since 2019, but the outlook looks cloudy as most of the sales reflected orders placed before the Iran war began and mask growing concern about consumer confidence and affordability.
UK Car Market Surges in March 2026 as EV Sales Hit Record High
The UK new car market delivered a robust performance in March 2026, recording its strongest monthly result in years. According to data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), registrations climbed 6.6% year-on-year to 380,627 units—marking the best March, and overall month, since 2019.Private Demand Drives Market MomentumGrowth was largely fueled by a resurgence in private buyer activity. Retail registrations rose 10.1…
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