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The UK’s new car market delivered its strongest May performance since before the pandemic, with registrations rising 7.1% to 160,662 units, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
A resurgence in private buyers drove the increase, with registrations up 17.2%. Fleet demand grew more modestly, rising 1.8%, but still accounted for more than half (57.1%) of all registrations. The smaller business sector declined -18.8%, although in volume terms the drop was marginal (720 units).
The gradual shift in consumer demand for new technologies continues to reshape the market. Registrations of petrol and diesel cars fell by -7.1% and -2.2% respectively, as electrified vehicles gained ground. Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) uptake rose 1.8% and plug-in hybrid deliveries grew 23.9% to take an enlarged 13.8% market share. Battery electric vehicle (BEV) uptake, meanwhile, increased 34.2% to take 27.3% of the market, the highest recorded so far in 2026.
Meanwhile, the new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market rose 3.6% in May with 23,620 vans, pickups and 4x4s joining UK roads,
Overall growth was driven by increased demand for large vans, with registrations up 18.6% to 17,380 units and a market share of 73.6%, compared with a 64.3% share in May last year. Uptake of 4x4s also grew, up 16.2% to 832 units, while deliveries of medium and small vans fell by -7.5% and -24.5% to 3,762 and 508 units, respectively.
Demand for pickups fell sharply for an eighth month, down -57.7% to 1,138 registrations, now representing just 4.8% of the total market versus 11.8% a year ago. The decline reflects the ongoing impact of fiscal changes introduced for double-cabs last April.
Once again, demand for battery electric vans (BEVs) grew strongly from a relatively low base, up 35.5% with 2,345 registrations in May as market share reached 9.8%, up from 7.6% in the same period last year.
