First UK Top 10 finish for the Jaecoo 7.

The UK new car market is down for the 2nd consecutive month with August sales at -2% to 82,908, the weakest August since 2022. The year-to-date tally is now up 2.1% to 1,265,281, the highest result since pre-pandemic 2019 (1,519,016). Private sales edge up 0.7% to 32,319 and 39% share vs. 38% a year ago, while fleet sales drop -4.6% to 48,980 and 59.1% share vs. 60.7% last year and business sales surge 41.6% to 1,609 and 1.9% share vs. 1.3%. Year-to-date, private sales are up 3.8% to 485,969 and 38.4% share vs. 37.8% over the same period in 2024, fleet sales grow 1.2% to 752,016 and 59.4% share vs. 60% and business sales are stable at +0.2% to 27,296 and 2.2% share, unchanged.

Looking at propulsion type, petrol drops -14.2% to 37,373 and 45.1% share vs. 51.5% in August 2024, diesel is off -16.6% to 4,307 and 5.2% share vs. 6.1%, HEV sinks -13.9% to 9,456 and 11.4% share vs. 13% and PHEVs surge 69.4% to 9,803 and 11.8% share vs. 6.8%. According to local association SMMT, the newly announced Electric Car Grant (ECG) may have had a limited initial impact on BEV sales this month. They stand at 21,969, up 14.9% year-on-year to reach 26.5% share, the highest this year and 4th highest in UK history behind December 2022 (32.9%), December 2024 (31.0%) and April 2020 (31.8%). So far this year, BEV registrations are up 29.5% to 276,635 and 21.9% share vs. 17.2% over the first 8 months of 2024.

UK August volumes from 2009 to 2025. Source: SMMT

In the brands ranking, Volkswagen (-1.5%) remains by far the best-seller with 9.5% share, distancing Ford (+5.9%) in rather solid shape. BMW (+13.9%) is back up two spots on July to #3 which is still lower than the #2 it commands year-to-date. Audi (-22.4%) struggles and remains at #4 above Mercedes (+3.1%) up three ranks to #5. Peugeot (+19.1%) and Hyundai (+11.8%) shine in the remainder of the Top 10 with double-digit gains whereas Toyota (-21.9%) and Kia (-13.6%) are hit hard, Skoda (-5%) less so. Tesla is up by 7.6% and climbs back up to #11 with 3.9% share vs. #18 and 2.1% share year-to-date (-5.4%). Other notable performers include Omoda (+2258.7%), Alpine (+763.6%), BYD (+301.6%), Mini (+143.3%), Polestar (+94.9%) and Cupra (+32.9%). 

Looking at the models ranking, the Ford Puma (-0.6%) reclaims the top spot it holds year-to-date above the Kia Sportage (-9%) in difficulty. The Tesla Model Y (+12.3%) and Model 3 (+3.3%) follow with positive results, with the VW Tiguan repeating at #5 and advancing to #7 year-to-date. Below we have potentially one of the biggest surprises of the year: the new Jaecoo 7 storms into the Top 10, landing directly in 6th place with 1.6% share. This is the first time a “true” Chinese model (arguably the MG brand itself is English) manages to end the month inside the UK Top 10. Granted, this has a lot to do with the minimal August market but a very important milestone nonetheless.

Previous month: UK July 2025: Mini (+46.6%), Peugeot (+33.4%) and Skoda (+30.2%) highlight negative market

One year ago: UK August 2024: Volkswagen and Ford Puma dominate, Omoda launches

Full August 2025 Top 50 All brands and Top 10 models below.

UK August 2025 – brands:

PosBrandAug-25%/24Jul2025%/24PosFY241Volkswagen7,8669.5%– 1.5%1115,4749.1%+ 9.4%112Ford  5,6176.8%+ 5.9%275,1255.9%+ 7.5%453BMW  5,2006.3%+ 13.9%578,9876.2%– 6.3%224Audi  4,8205.8%– 22.4%467,0965.3%– 17.1%535Mercedes  4,5515.5%+ 3.1%858,9674.7%– 7.5%766Hyundai4,2785.2%+ 11.8%660,2724.8%+ 4.3%697Kia4,1095.0%– 13.6%375,1425.9%+ 0.3%348Peugeot  3,8144.6%+ 19.1%958,6534.6%+ 38.0%8139Skoda3,6924.5%– 5.0%754,3014.3%+ 16.2%111210Toyota3,2553.9%– 21.9%1155,3134.4%– 11.7%10711Tesla3,2433.9%+ 7.6%3026,9512.1%– 5.4%181712Vauxhall  2,7213.3%– 16.7%1354,2954.3%+ 0.4%121113Renault2,5793.1%– 9.2%1839,1543.1%+ 11.7%161614MG2,5633.1%– 13.2%1250,8174.0%– 4.5%131015Nissan  2,3952.9%– 18.0%1057,6624.6%– 12.3%9816Mini2,3162.8%+ 143.3%1428,6772.3%+ 13.7%171817Land Rover2,2842.8%+ 10.1%1641,8383.3%+ 4.6%141518Volvo2,0462.5%– 27.8%1540,2693.2%+ 1.2%151419Cupra1,9412.3%+ 32.9%1724,7022.0%+ 35.9%192220BYD1,7592.1%+ 301.6%1924,3331.9%+ 492.0%203121Dacia1,4461.7%+ 3.1%2319,4381.5%– 1.2%222022Jaecoo1,3671.6%new2111,6810.9%new254723Omoda1,0851.3%+ 2258.7%229,9000.8%n/a303324Seat1,0721.3%– 52.5%2414,8661.2%– 44.5%241925Honda1,0511.3%– 37.6%2615,5851.2%– 28.8%232126Citroen9641.2%– 37.8%2811,4900.9%– 40.5%272327Suzuki7860.9%– 47.5%2911,3480.9%– 33.1%282528Polestar7290.9%+ 94.9%329,8720.8%+ 151.1%313229Porsche6660.8%+ 7.8%2511,5160.9%+ 5.9%262630Mazda6200.7%– 41.6%2021,3441.7%+ 26.3%212431Lexus5760.7%+ 8.9%2710,5370.8%+ 10.8%292732Jeep3600.4%+ 1.4%317,8100.6%+ 62.0%323033Leapmotor2580.3%new341,0480.1%new37 –34Fiat1990.2%– 70.0%336,7660.5%– 28.7%332935Alfa Romeo950.1%+ 20.3%351,5660.1%+ 47.6%353636Alpine950.1%+ 763.6%385310.0%+ 109.9%434437KGM720.1%– 18.2%361,0210.1%– 12.9%383738Subaru580.1%– 29.3%401,4030.1%– 13.8%363439Xpeng550.1%new482280.0%new44 –40Smart370.0%– 54.3%399170.1%– 27.4%403541Bentley260.0%+ 30.0%416400.1%+ 17.9%424242GWM Ora170.0%+ 70.0%442240.0%– 76.7%453943Genesis160.0%– 65.2%379140.1%+ 31.5%413844Ineos150.0%– 34.8%421820.0%– 2.7%484545Maserati140.0%– 22.2%432170.0%– 33.4%474346Chery130.0%new –130.0%new51 –47Abarth80.0%– 92.2%462200.0%– 68.5%464148DS70.0%– 90.8%459680.1%+ 24.1%394049Chevrolet70.0%n/a47520.0%+ 5100.0%495050Jaguar00.0%– 100.0%501,7250.1%– 86.0%3428 –Other British850.1%– 30.3% –1,9690.2%– 0.4% – – –Other Imports600.1%– 38.8% –1,2030.1%– 25.4% – –

UK August 2025 – models:

PosModelAug-25%/24Jul2025%/24PosFY241Ford Puma2,4573.0%– 0.6%233,2212.6%+ 3.0%112Kia Sportage1,7852.2%– 9.0%129,2792.3%– 2.7%223Tesla Model Y1,6502.0%+ 12.3%n/an/an/an/an/a54Tesla Model 31,5931.9%+ 3.3%n/an/an/an/an/a305VW Tiguan1,5261.8%n/a519,2761.5%n/a7136Jaecoo 71,3671.6%newn/a11,6810.9%newn/an/a7Audi A31,2901.6%+ 14.1%10n/an/an/an/a118Vauxhall Corsa1,2901.6%n/an/a23,4861.9%+ 81.7%4129Mini Cooper1,2511.5%n/a4n/an/an/an/a2510MG HS1,1381.4%+ 24.4%n/a18,9311.5%– 5.8%88n/aHyundai Tucson1,1331.4%– 5.4%n/a18,3821.5%– 9.4%107n/aPeugeot 20081,0571.3%n/a718,6621.5%n/a920n/aNissan Qashqai1,0421.3%– 10.9%625,5712.0%– 7.6%33n/aVW Golf1,0421.3%– 27.5%920,0161.6%– 14.8%66n/aNissan Juke8531.0%+ 18.5%322,4571.8%– 1.1%54

Source: SMMT