EVs just had their best-ever month in the UK thanks to the fuel crisis — with one Chinese brand winning big | Tech Radar

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EVs just had their best-ever month in the UK thanks to the fuel crisis — with one Chinese brand winning big

Battery Electric Vehicle segment reached a record high last month

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Battery Electric Vehicles were a big contributing factor

March has historically been a busy month for new car registrations, as the arrival of a new registration plate encourages customers to splash out on a fresh set of wheels.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the UK’s new car market grew by 6.6% in March — the best month for registrations overall since 2019.

But while the sale of both diesel and petrol-engined cars was down by 6.1% and 11.4% respectively, pure battery electric vehicles experienced a record-breaking increase of 24.2% for the month compared to the same period last year.

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While many industry experts acknowledge the fact that March is always busy for new car purchases, a number believe that EVs have proven particularly popular due to both shifting attitudes towards the technology and the rising cost of fuel.

“That’s likely driving more interest in electric vehicles, as buyers look to protect themselves from fluctuating fuel prices,” explains James Hosking, Managing Director of AA Cars.

Hosking also says that cost of ownership is now “front of mind for buyers across both new and used markets”, with motorists weighing running costs just as carefully as headline price.

“We’re already seeing that reflected in our latest Used Car Index, with EV searches up by more than a quarter in early March. The question now is whether that shift continues if fuel prices remain unpredictable,” he added.

The list of best-selling models in March looks familiar, with the likes of the ever-popular Ford Puma and Nissan Qashqai still appearing in the top three, but the number one spot has now been snared by the Jaecoo 7 — a relatively unknown entity last year.

That model shifted some 10,064 units in March and currently sits in second place (just behind the Ford Puma) in the top models of 2026 leaderboard.

According to the marque, the range-topping, plug-in hybrid variant accounted for 85% of all Jaecoo 7 sales last month.

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Alongside Omoda and Jaecoo, which claim to have delivered a record-breaking start to the ‘76’ number plate change, registering 17,951 vehicles in March, Chinese rivals BYD also said that it too achieved record sales in the first quarter of 2026, registering 21,337 units.

BYD says the period represented a “record-breaking” month for the brand in the UK, with a rise of 134% compared to the previous year and UK market share of over 3.98%.

While pure battery electric vehicles aren’t the sole reason for both Jaecoo and BYD’s sales success, the pair have stated that unpredictable prices at the pumps are pushing buyers towards the more efficient hybrids and electrified powertrains that they provide.

Hybrids certainly help ease the transition towards electrification for the buyer, but they still don’t meet the strict mandates that the UK government has put in place to encourage a switch to pure electric vehicles.

Mike Hawes, the chief executive of the SMMT, warns that despite record-breaking levels of battery electric vehicle sales, the EV market is “falling further away from mandated levels despite record levels of incentives”.

Currently, BEV volumes rose 24.2% to reach a record high in March, but market share remains at just 22.6% — when the mandated target for the year is 33%.

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Leon has been navigating a world where automotive and tech collide for almost 20 years, reporting on everything from in-car entertainment to robotised manufacturing plants. Currently, EVs are the focus of his attentions, but give it a few years and it will be electric vertical take-off and landing craft. Outside of work hours, he can be found tinkering with distinctly analogue motorcycles, because electric motors are no replacement for an old Honda inline four.

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• EVs just had their best-ever month in the UK thanks to the fuel crisis — with one Chinese brand winning big