The Seal U is the first BYD model to crack the UK Top 10.

September is a new numberplate month and traditionally accounts for 1 in 7 annual sales. This year volumes are up a stunning 13.7% to 312,891, the best September result since 2020. Year-to-date sales are up 4.2% to 1,578,172. Private sales trail the market at +8.9% to 131,003 and 41.9% share vs. 43.7% in September 2024 while fleet sales advance 16.9% to 174,336 and 55.7% share vs. 54.2% a year ago. Business sales soar 28.6% to 7,552 and 2.4% share vs. 2.1%. Year-to-date, this time private sales are up 4.8% to 616,972 and 39.1% share vs. 38.9% over the same period in 2024 with fleet sales up 3.8% to 926,352 and 58.7% share vs. 58.9% and  business sales up 5.2% to 34,848 and 2.2% share.

The Jaecoo 7 is up to an incredible 4th place overall in September.

One of the main events this month is the volume reached by BEVs, up 29.1% to 72,779 and 23.3% share vs. 20.5% a year ago. This is the highest monthly score in UK history. PHEVs surge 56.4% to 38,308 and 12.2% share vs. 8.9% in September 2024, HEVs are up 23.5% to 47,885 and 15.3% share vs. 14.1%, petrol edges up 2.4% to 141,310 and 45.2% share vs. 50.1% and diesel sinks -28.2% to 12,609 and 4% share vs. 6.4%. Through September, BEVs are up 29.4% to 349,414 and 22.1% share vs. 17.8% last year, PHEVs gain 38.2% to 172,639 and 10.9% share vs. 8.3%, HEVs are up 8.6% to 222,669 and 14.1% share vs. 13.5%, petrol drops -8.2% to 749,794 and 47.5% share vs. 53.9% and diesel falls -14.3% to 83,656 and 5.3% share vs. 6.4% in 2024.

Over in the brands charts, Volkswagen (+10.3%) easily keeps the lead with 8.1% share. It is followed this month by Kia (+3.6%) up five spots on August to #2 and BMW (+40.7%) staying at #3. Audi (+1%) and Ford (+3.2%) are more discreet and round out the Top 5. In fact MG (+62.7%) is the only additional Top 10 member in positive, posting its highest ranking and share for the year at #8 and 4.7%. Mercedes (-13.4%) and Nissan (-7.3%) struggle. Below, Peugeot (+42.8%), Vauxhall (+29.7%) and Volvo (+23.3%) stun but the performer of the month is without a doubt BYD, up 10-fold year-on-year (+880.1%) to reach a record 15th place with 3.6% share, and smashing its volume record to 11,271 (previous best 6,480 last March). BYD notably outsells Tesla (+4.4%). The other standout performer is fellow Chinese fare Jaecoo, breaking into the Top 20 for the first time at #18 with 2.1% share thanks to a single model as we’ll see further down. Omoda (+299.9%) hits a record share at 1.4%.

Model-wise, the Kia Sportage (+26.4%) lodges its 4th win so far this year but remains well below the Ford Puma (+24.4%) in the year-to-date race. The Nissan Qashqai (+37.8%) is back to the third place it holds year-to-date. Far from being a freak event, the #6 August ranking of the Jaecoo 7 was just a sign of things to come: the new nameplate is up to a surreal 4th place overall in the all-important month of September! And below the Vauxhall Corsa at a strong #5, we have another surprise: the BYD Seal U breaks into the UK Top 10 for the very first time, landing directly at #6 wth 1.7% share. This is the first time (but assuredly not the last) that a BYD model manages to rank inside the UK Top 10.

Previous month: UK August 2025: Jaecoo 7 up to 6th place

One year ago: UK September 2024: BEVs at 20.5% share, Kia Sportage back to #1

Full September 2025 Top 52 All brands and Top 10 models below.

UK September 2025 – brands:

PosBrandSep-25%/24Aug2025%/24PosFY241Volkswagen25,3218.1%+ 10.3%1140,7958.9%+ 9.5%112Kia18,1675.8%+ 3.6%793,3095.9%+ 1.0%343BMW  17,6425.6%+ 40.7%396,6296.1%– 0.2%224Audi  17,4915.6%+ 1.0%484,5875.4%– 13.9%535Ford  16,3815.2%+ 3.2%291,5065.8%+ 6.7%456Toyota16,2525.2%– 2.2%1071,5654.5%– 9.7%977Hyundai14,6804.7%– 1.3%674,9524.7%+ 3.1%698MG14,5774.7%+ 62.7%1465,3944.1%+ 5.2%13109Mercedes  14,2714.6%– 13.4%573,2384.6%– 8.7%7610Nissan  13,9814.5%– 7.3%1571,6434.5%– 11.4%8811Vauxhall  12,1203.9%+ 29.7%1266,4154.2%+ 4.8%111112Peugeot  11,9843.8%+ 42.8%870,6374.5%+ 38.8%101313Skoda11,9253.8%+ 4.1%966,2264.2%+ 13.8%121214Volvo11,5703.7%+ 23.3%1851,8393.3%+ 5.4%141415BYD11,2713.6%+ 880.1%2035,6042.3%+ 576.9%173116Renault9,5743.1%+ 22.8%1348,7283.1%+ 13.7%151617Tesla7,9932.6%+ 4.4%1134,9442.2%– 3.4%181718Jaecoo6,4892.1%new2218,1701.2%new254719Land Rover6,4192.1%– 28.6%1748,2573.1%– 1.5%161520Cupra6,0621.9%+ 28.8%1930,7641.9%+ 34.5%202221Mini5,5751.8%+ 13.5%1634,2522.2%+ 13.6%191822Mazda5,5511.8%– 5.5%3026,8951.7%+ 18.1%212423Honda4,9121.6%– 2.9%2520,4971.3%– 24.0%232124Omoda4,3231.4%+ 299.9%2314,2230.9%+ 1162.0%273325Seat3,7981.2%– 14.3%2418,6641.2%– 40.2%241926Dacia3,4811.1%+ 3.6%2122,9191.5%– 0.5%222027Suzuki2,9600.9%– 22.8%2714,3080.9%– 31.2%262528Polestar2,7580.9%+ 13.5%2812,6300.8%+ 98.6%313229Lexus2,6530.8%– 14.9%3113,1900.8%+ 4.4%302730Citroen2,4680.8%– 36.3%2613,9580.9%– 39.8%282331Porsche2,1190.7%+ 7.7%2913,6350.9%+ 6.2%292632Jeep1,5100.5%+ 17.1%329,3200.6%+ 52.5%323033Fiat1,3510.4%– 39.0%348,1170.5%– 30.6%332934Chery1,2870.4%new461,3000.1%new38 –35Alfa Romeo6490.2%+ 247.1%352,2150.1%+ 77.5%343636Leapmotor4870.2%new331,5350.1%new37 –37Alpine3870.1%+ 843.9%369180.1%+ 212.2%434438Smart3820.1%– 17.3%401,2990.1%– 24.7%393539Subaru3400.1%– 7.1%381,7430.1%– 12.6%353440Xpeng2810.1%new395090.0%new45 –41KGM2690.1%+ 5.5%371,2900.1%– 9.6%403742GWM Ora1950.1%+ 68.1%424190.0%– 61.1%463943Bentley1380.0%+ 64.3%417780.0%+ 24.1%444244Genesis920.0%– 40.6%431,0060.1%+ 18.4%413845Maserati570.0%– 16.2%452740.0%– 30.5%474346Abarth410.0%– 78.5%472610.0%– 70.7%484147Ineos360.0%– 41.0%442180.0%– 12.1%494548Changan190.0%new –190.0%new52 –49Chevrolet160.0%n/a49680.0%+ 6700.0%505050DS140.0%– 93.4%489820.1%– 0.9%424051Skywell40.0%new –200.0%new514952Jaguar00.0%– 100.0% –1,7250.1%– 87.8%3628 –Other British4050.1%– 17.3% –2,3740.2%– 3.7% – – –Other Imports1620.1%– 13.4% –1,3650.1%– 24.1% – –

UK September 2025 – models:

PosModelSep-25%/24Aug2025%/24PosFY241Kia Sportage9,4553.0%+ 26.4%238,7342.5%+ 3.1%222Ford Puma8,3102.7%+ 24.4%141,5312.6%+ 6.6%113Nissan Qashqai7,2182.3%+ 37.8%n/a32,7892.1%– 0.4%334Jaecoo 76,4892.1%new618,1701.2%newn/an/a5Vauxhall Corsa5,8411.9%n/a829,3271.9%n/a4126BYD Seal U5,3731.7%n/an/an/an/anewn/a –7Hyundai Tucson5,3481.7%– 7.8%n/a23,7301.5%– 9.1%878MG HS5,1731.7%+ 71.0%1024,1041.5%+ 4.3%789VW Golf5,1471.6%+ 29.5%n/a25,1631.6%– 8.4%6610Volvo XC404,9421.6%n/an/a22,9411.5%n/a109n/aNissan Juke4,5381.5%– 24.7%n/a26,9951.7%– 6.0%54n/aVW Tiguan4,2431.4%– 1.9%523,5191.5%n/a913

Source: SMMT