TL;DR The Jaecoo 7 was the UK’s best-selling car in March, marking a major milestone for the new Chinese brand. It outperformed key rivals and now ranks second for 2025 so far. Meanwhile, EV sales hit record levels but still fall short of government targets, as rising fuel costs and global tensions begin to shape buyer behaviour.
The Jaecoo 7 was the UK’s best-selling new car in March, overtaking established favourites including the Ford Puma, Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage.
A total of 10,064 Jaecoo 7 models were registered during the month, ahead of the Puma (9,193), Qashqai (8,718) and Sportage (7,310).
March is typically the busiest month for new car sales, driven by the introduction of the new number plate. This strong performance has pushed the Jaecoo 7 into second place year-to-date, with 15,569 registrations - just behind the Ford Puma on 16,128.
The model’s rapid rise is particularly notable given that Jaecoo only entered the UK market in January 2025. Owned by Chinese automotive giant Chery, the brand has already outperformed several long-established manufacturers, including Citroën, Mazda and Mini.
Electric vehicle (EV) registrations also reached a record high in March, totalling 86,120 units. However, EVs still fall short of the government’s 2026 zero-emission vehicle target, accounting for 22.4% of the market versus the 33% goal.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes cautioned that geopolitical tensions, particularly the ongoing conflict in Iran, could impact future performance. He noted that many March registrations were likely based on orders placed before the conflict began, which may yet affect consumer confidence and the cost of living.
Rising fuel prices linked to the conflict could, however, accelerate interest in electric vehicles. Dealers have already reported a surge in demand for used EVs, a trend that may extend to new models if fuel costs remain elevated.
Hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles also saw significant growth, with plug-in hybrid registrations increasing by 46.9% year-on-year to 49,671 units.
In contrast, demand for traditional petrol and diesel cars declined, with registrations falling by 6.1% and 11.4% respectively.
