UK new car registrations rose 11.4% year-on-year to 213,166 units in June 2026, marking the strongest June performance since 2019, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Growth was broad-based across all customer segments: registrations by private buyers increased 12.5%, fleet deliveries climbed 10.5%, and the smaller business segment posted the sharpest rise at 17.1%. Fleet customers remained the main driver of demand, accounting for 59.5% of all new registrations.
The continued shift toward electrification underpinned market performance, supported by manufacturers’ investment in a wider range of low- and zero-emission models and the growing number of brands operating in the UK. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) gained further traction, capturing a 30.0% market share—its highest level so far this year—reflecting typical quarter-end buying patterns and stronger demand in the face of higher fuel prices. Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) secured 12.5% of the market, while hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) represented 14.0%.