Car sales rise to 27-year record as Britons snap up Chinese motors and electric vehicles

More new cars were registered last month than in any August since the biannual number plate change system was introduced in 1999, industry figures revealed on Friday.A total of 94,236 new vehicles were delivered to motorists in a bumper month for Britain's automotive sector.Registrations jumped 13.7 per cent compared with August 2025, despite the month traditionally being one of the quietest periods for dealerships as buyers hold off until September's new number plate arrives.And it was electrified vehicles that powered the market higher.Sales of fully electric cars surged 27.7 per cent to 28,063 units, meaning EVs accounted for almost three in every ten new cars hitting UK roads last month.However, it was plug-in hybrids that recorded the strongest growth, with registrations soaring 39.8 per cent year-on-year.The rise was fuelled in large part by increasing demand for Chinese-built models such as the Jaecoo 7, dubbed the 'Temu Range Rover', and the Omoda 5, which now account for more than one in five of all new cars.The acceleration in demand came in the same month the Government set out proposals to relax electric vehicle sales targets between 2027 and 2030 following lobbying from the industry trade body. Growth in sales of 'electrfied' cars - including EVs, hybrids and plug-in hybrids - and the increasing popularity of Chinese models drove the record August sales performanceBattery electric vehicles claimed an overall market share of 29.8 per cent in August, the second-highest monthly figure recorded this year.Yet registrations were still short of the headline 33 per cent EV sales target set out under the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate for 2026.Manufacturers' repeated failure to hit the Net Zero policy's headline annual targets since its introduction in 2024 – and the threat of financial penalties – has prompted sustained calls from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) to water down the scheme.It claims that existing demand for EVs is being propped up by 'unsustainable' discounting that's costing manufacturers billions of pounds every year.Heeding its request, the Department for Transport last month opened a consultation to relax the targets between next year and the end of the decade, which could see the required share of EV sales fall from 80 per cent to just 50 per cent in 2030. That is despite flexibilities within the policy, including carbon-reduction credits, likely allowing all mainstream car brands to comply with the rules this year, as they did in 2024 and 2025.Ginny Buckley, founder of EV website Electrifying.com, said the August figures showed why ministers should stop 'constantly moving the goalposts' on EV sales targets.'The market is heading in the right direction, and manufacturers are building up a significant surplus of credits,' she said.'Of course, not all car makers are equal when it comes to EVs. Some have embraced the transition far more successfully than others, but we can't let those lagging behind hold the whole market back.'However, Hawes said the Government's review was the 'right move' to ensure the transition to electric vehicles remains on track while protecting jobs and future investment in the UK's car industry. Last month was officially the best sales performance in an August for more than 25 years Chinese cars continue to increase their footprint in Britain. Drivers bought almost 30,000 motors from Chinese brands in August, the data showsOne in five new cars in Britain are Chinese A boom in plug-in hybrid sales means the technology, often viewed as a stepping stone between conventional combustion-engined cars and EVs, now accounts for around one in seven new cars sold.That growth has been driven largely by an influx of new Chinese models.In fact, four of the ten best-selling cars in August were Chinese brands.The Jaecoo 7, with 2,022 registrations, was the month's second most popular model behind only the Ford Puma, which recorded 2,795 sales.The MG HS ranked third with 1,785 registrations, followed by the Jaecoo 5 on 1,670. The Omoda 5 SUV was sixth overall with 1,465 deliveries.In total, Britons bought almost 20,000 Chinese-brand vehicles last month, giving Chinese manufacturers a record 21 per cent share of the UK new car market as they continue to expand their footprint.In contrast, established legacy brands are taking a big hit as competition increases. The Jaecoo 7 SUV (pictured), with 2,022 registrations, was the month's second most popular model behind only the Ford Puma LEFT: The 10 best-selling new cars in August. RIGHT: The year's most popular models to dateThe biggest losers in August were Seat, Hyundai and Peugeot, all posting a decline in sales of between 25 and 41 per cent compared to August last year.The nation's best-selling brands also took a hit. Registrations of Ford cars declined by 8 per cent, BMW and Audi down 5 per cent and VW losing ground by 4 per cent on August 2025 sales.Returning to fuel types, conventional hybrid vehicles also enjoyed a strong August, with registrations rising 26.3 per cent to 11,940 units.Diesel sales edged up 4 per cent to 4,478 vehicles, though they remain a fraction of their former market share.Petrol was the only fuel type to record a decline, with registrations down 3.5 per cent year-on-year.Even so, with 36,048 sales, it remained Britain's most popular choice of powertrain last month. CARS & MOTORING: ON TEST