Chery Jaecoo 7 Becomes UK's Best-Selling Model in March, Driving New Car Sales to Seven-Year High

UK new car registrations reached 380,627 units in March, the highest monthly figure since 2019. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) stood out with a 47% year-on-year sales increase. The Jaecoo 7 SUV, produced by Chery, surpassed the Ford Puma and Nissan Qashqai for the first time to become the UK’s best-selling model that month. Priced at around £30,000, the vehicle targets the affordable segment of the market. Meanwhile, battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales in the UK rose nearly 25% year-on-year in the same period, hitting a record high. However, their market share remained at just 23%, falling short of the government’s annual target of 33%. Automakers failing to meet this target could face fines of up to £12,000 per vehicle, although penalties can be avoided through mechanisms such as carbon credit trading. Although current Middle East tensions have not yet significantly dampened car-buying demand, some automotive executives have warned that prolonged instability could undermine consumer confidence. The industry also faces challenges including U.S. tariff pressures, uneven EV demand across Europe, and weak demand in the Chinese market. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) noted that March’s strong sales were largely driven by orders placed before the recent geopolitical escalation, and downside risks remain for the months ahead.