The UK new-car market delivered a strong result in August 2026, with registrations rising despite the month traditionally being one of the quietest points in the automotive calendar.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, 94,236 new cars were registered during August, up 13.7% from the same month in 2025. It was the ninth consecutive month of year-on-year growth and the strongest August since the introduction of the current twice-yearly number plate system.

Electric Cars Continued to Gain Ground

Battery-electric vehicles remained one of the main drivers of growth. A total of 28,063 EVs were registered in August, up 27.7% year on year. Their market share reached 29.8%, compared with 26.5% in August 2025.

That means almost three in every ten new cars registered during the month were fully electric. The figure is notable, although August is a relatively low-volume month, so percentage changes can appear stronger than they would during busier periods.

Plug-In Hybrids Grew Even Faster

Plug-in hybrids posted the strongest percentage increase among the major powertrain categories.

Registrations rose by 39.8% to 13,707 units, giving PHEVs a 14.5% share of the market. Conventional hybrids also performed well, with registrations increasing by 26.3% to 11,940.

Together, fully electric cars, plug-in hybrids and conventional hybrids accounted for well over half of all new registrations in August.

This points to a broader shift in the UK market. Electrified vehicles are no longer a niche choice and are becoming an increasingly important part of mainstream demand.

Petrol Lost More Market Share

Petrol remained the single largest powertrain category, but its position weakened further.

Registrations fell by 3.5% to 36,048 cars. Petrol’s market share dropped from 45.1% a year earlier to 38.3%. Diesel recorded a small increase, rising 4% to 4,478 registrations, but its overall share remained low at just 4.8%.

The longer-term direction remains clear: buyers are gradually moving away from purely petrol and diesel models and toward electrified alternatives.

Private Demand Improved

Growth was not limited to fleet buyers. Private registrations increased by 19% to 38,460 cars, while fleet demand rose by 10.1% to 53,934. Business registrations also increased, although from a much smaller base. Fleet operators still accounted for the largest share of the market, but stronger private demand is an encouraging sign for manufacturers and retailers.

It suggests that the improvement in registrations is not being driven only by company purchases.

Ford Puma Remained the Best Seller

The Ford Puma was August’s best-selling new car, with 2,795 registrations. It was followed by the Jaecoo 7 with 2,022, the MG HS with 1,785 and the Jaecoo 5 with 1,670. The Kia Sportage completed the top five with 1,531 registrations.

Chinese-linked brands continued to strengthen their presence, with Jaecoo and Omoda both appearing prominently in the monthly rankings. Among fully electric cars, the Tesla Model 3 led registrations, ahead of the Tesla Model Y and Vauxhall Frontera.

September Will Be More Important

Despite the strong August figures, the industry remains cautious. August usually accounts for only around 4% of annual new-car registrations because many buyers delay purchases until September, when the new registration plate is introduced.

That makes September a much more important test of underlying demand.

So far in 2026, around 1.39 million new cars have been registered in the UK, up 9.8% from the same period last year.

The Market Is Moving in the Right Direction

August confirmed several important trends at once: private demand is improving, electrified vehicles are gaining market share and petrol continues to lose ground.

The strongest signal, however, will come from September. If the market can maintain its current momentum during one of the year’s biggest registration months, the recovery will look far more convincing.

The direction is positive, but the next few weeks will show whether August was simply a strong seasonal result or part of a more durable shift in the UK car market.