The Jaecoo 7 is only outsold by the Kia Sportage in January.

The UK new car market is up 3.4% year-on-year in January to 144,127 units, this is the highest January volume in six years: since pre-pandemic January 2020. Encouragingly, private sales beat the market at +4.5% to 52,397, but remain at a low 36.4% share vs. 36% a year ago. Fleet sales edge up 1.6% to 88,269 and 61.2% share vs. 62.3% in January 2025. Meanwhile business sales are up 46.5% to 3,461. BEV registrations disappoint at +0.1% to 29,654 and 20.6% share vs. 21.3% last year, the lowest since March 2025. HEVs are up 4.8% to 19,297 and 13.4% vs. 13.2%, PHEVs surge 47.3% to 18,557 and 12.9% share vs. 9% but petrol is off -1.9% to 68,757 and 47.7% share vs. 50.3% and diesel down -8.8% to 7,862 and 5.5% share vs. 6.2%.

In the brands ranking, the three best-sellers disappoint with year-on-year drops. Volkswagen (-7.6%) remains by far the most popular carmaker in the country with 8.7% share, consistent with its FY2025 level of 8.8%. Kia (-7.7%), although down significantly, continues on its traditional strong start of years at #2, a ranking it last held in September. BMW (-12.6%) is in trouble but climbs back up to the podium. Audi (+17.1%), Ford (+13.6%, Skoda (+13.1%) and Mercedes (+6.7%) all post solid scores below, whereas Peugeot (-21.6%) and Nissan (-16.7%) struggle. Further down, Chinese fare Jaecoo (+569.9%) ascends to a record ranking (#15) and share (3.4%) and is only 200 sales below MG (-6.6%). Omoda (+211.3%), BYD (+149.1%) and Citroen (+97.5%) also impress. Tesla is down -50.8% to #33 and 0.5% share.

Looking at the models charts, the Kia Sportage (+34.5%) snaps the top spot for the 5th time in the past 13 months, another good start of the year for the crossover. The event of the month is the brilliant 2nd place of the Jaecoo 7, a new record for the nameplate reaching an all time high share at 2.8%. Its previous best was #4 last September. This the 6th consecutive month the Jaecoo 7 is inside the UK Top 10, confirming it is an instant (and surprising) blockbuster here. Leader for the past three years, the Ford Puma (+59.3%) drops to #3 but manages surging year-on-year volumes. The BYD Seal U is up to a record #6, a ranking it also held last September. Strong showing also by the VW Tiguan (+18.8%) and Nissan Juke (+8.5%).

Previous post: UK Full Year 2025: Ford Puma threepeats at #1, Jaecoo 7 up to #4 in September

One year ago: UK January 2025: Peugeot up to #4, places 3008 #5 and 2008 #6

Full January 2026 Top 54 All brands and Top 10 models below.

UK January 2026 – brands:

PosBrandJan-26%/25Dec1Volkswagen12,5398.7%– 7.6%12Kia9,9836.9%– 7.7%153BMW  8,0995.6%– 12.6%44Ford  7,5405.2%+ 13.6%35Audi  7,5345.2%+ 17.1%56Vauxhall  7,2185.0%+ 1.9%177Mercedes  6,7874.7%+ 6.7%138Peugeot  6,3484.4%– 21.6%209Skoda5,9494.1%+ 13.1%1410Nissan  5,9424.1%– 16.7%911Hyundai5,8124.0%– 8.2%1012Land Rover5,2993.7%+ 4.1%1813Toyota5,0873.5%+ 9.2%1114MG5,0793.5%– 6.6%215Jaecoo4,8503.4%+ 569.9%1916Renault4,4373.1%+ 8.7%1217BYD4,0212.8%+ 149.1%618Volvo3,7512.6%– 12.1%719Mini2,9832.1%– 0.1%1620Cupra2,7231.9%+ 21.4%2121Citroen2,4801.7%+ 97.5%2522Mazda2,4581.7%– 11.2%3023Chery2,1271.5%new2724Dacia1,9281.3%– 16.5%2625Omoda1,8461.3%+ 211.3%2326Suzuki1,6851.2%– 8.3%3227Seat1,2990.9%– 32.7%2828Porsche1,2160.8%+ 2.1%2229Polestar1,0700.7%+ 43.4%2430Lexus9300.6%– 12.4%3131Honda8820.6%– 45.7%3332Leapmotor7660.5%new2933Tesla7180.5%– 50.8%834Jeep6000.4%– 37.5%3435Fiat2570.2%– 82.0%4136Alfa Romeo2110.1%+ 205.8%3637Alpine1700.1%+ 1600.0%3538KGM1680.1%+ 46.1%4439Subaru1670.1%+ 47.8%3940Changan1530.1%new3741Genesis960.1%+ 5.5%4542Geely860.1%new4243Smart790.1%+ 33.9%3844Lotus430.0%– 85.3%n/a45Maserati300.0%+ 15.4%4746Ineos260.0%+ 136.4%4947Abarth220.0%+ 15.8%5048DS190.0%– 81.2%4849GWM Ora80.0%– 84.6%4350Jaguar60.0%– 99.2% –51Skywell60.0%+ 500.0%5152Chevrolet10.0%+ 0.0%5253Maxus00.0%– 100.0%5354Xpeng00.0%new40 –Other British2790.2%+ 23.4% – –Other Imports1240.1%– 2.4% –

UK January 2026 – models:

PosModelJan-26%/25Dec1Kia Sportage4,6753.2%+ 34.5%n/a2Jaecoo 74,0592.8%+ 460.6%63Ford Puma3,7152.6%+ 59.3%14Nissan Qashqai2,9952.1%– 12.5%55Vauxhall Corsa2,9022.0%– 14.1%n/a6BYD Seal U2,5501.8%n/an/a7Nissan Juke2,5171.7%+ 8.5%98VW Tiguan2,4251.7%+ 18.8%109VW Golf2,0721.4%– 20.7%n/a10MG HS2,0351.4%– 5.3%7

Source: SMMT