COULD A CHINESE CAR REALLY TOP THE SALES CHARTS IN 2026?

A Chinese SUV is on course to become the UK's best-selling new car in what would signal a major tipping point for the public's acceptance when making big-ticket purchases.

In the opening three months of the year, Jaecoo's 7 SUV has topped the new car sales charts twice; in January and the vitally important new-plate month of March.

Some 15,569 have been delivered to UK customers in 2026 so far as Chinese newcomers continue to extend their market share by snatching sales away from more established European, Japanese, Korean and US rivals.

And the 7's rise to the top of the pile has come in record time. 

The brand Jaecoo - owned by automotive powerhouse Chery - only launched in the UK in January 2025.

Within a year, it has become the best seller in the family SUV segment, displacing popular models from legacy brands, like the Kia Sportage and Nissan Qashqai. 

Having initially been dubbed the 'Temu Range Rover' on social media thanks to its Chinese origins, striking resemblance to the Range Rover Velar, and starting price around half the price of the British icon, the £35,000 SUV is now adding real credibility through its mass market appeal.

And while it currently sits in second place in the sales charts for 2026, it has the potential to scoop the take the top spot by the year end in a seismic shift in UK drivers' tastes.

 March is traditionally the biggest month for car sales in the calendar year.

It marks the biannual release of a new registration age identifier, which is typically supported by a host of manufacturer deals to attract orders.

Historically, it is busier than the second new-plate month of September and - more importantly - sets the tone for the remainder of the year.

So, for a Chinese car to top the sales charts in March is nothing short of momentous.

Some 10,064 Jaecoo 7s were sold last month, putting it almost 1,000 registrations ahead of the next most popular model, the Ford Puma.

It means deliveries of the 7 have reached 15,569 units for 2026 in total, which is just 557 units shy of the Puma - not an insurmountable sales deficit for the Chinese marque to surpass in the remaining nine months of the year.   

Why is the Jaecoo 7 so popular?

The Jaecoo 7 only went on sale in the UK in January 2025 and was the model that officially announced the brand's debut into the market.

And it quickly became a TikTok sensation via a clever social media marketing strategy. 

Mums with substantial followings were last year posting content lauding it as the 'Temu Range Rover'.

They praised its premium look for a fraction of the cost of the British-built Velar - and waxed lyrically about its bounty of standard equipment.

Even the base 'Deluxe' trim features 19-inch alloy wheels, a 13.2-inch portrait infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 10.25-inch digital driver display, a full-length panoramic roof, heated front seats, synthetic leather upholstery, and 540-degree panoramic parking camera.  

These are features that are usually restricted to higher specifications of European cars - or only available as expensive optional extras pushing prices even higher.

Yet despite all this equipment, the 7 remains incredibly cheap. 

While the posh Velar starts from around £55,000, the Jaecoo is almost half the price - from £29,210 for the conventional hybrid model.

But it's the company's plug-in hybrid variant - which uses its own Super Hybrid System - that is most popular.

It is priced from £35,175 - some £30,000 cheaper than the entry Velar PHEV, which rings in at £65,450 - but offers a massive driving range on a brimmed fuel tank and fully charged battery (which we'll get to later).

Affordability is also bolstered by attractive finance packages, combining low deposit contributions and inexpensive monthly payments.  

Despite being a family-size SUV, Insider Car Deals says the 7 plug-in hybrid costs around £300 a month (with 0 per cent APR PCP), which is cheaper than almost every European rival.

For instance, a VW Tiguan - which comes with better brand equity and a stronger reputation - costs an extra £70 a month. For many drivers, there's a sizable financial saving to consider an equally stylish Chinese alternative.

It also explains why more than half (55 per cent) of all Jaecoo 7 deliveries last month were to private customers. 

And while the Jaecoo costs a fraction of the price of a Land Rover equivalent, its performance is more impressive than its budget price suggests. 

The PHEV - which accounts for more than four in five of its sales - delivers a 745-mile combined petrol and electric range - that's almost enough to drive the full length of the UK without stopping. 

The 1.5-litre combustion engine is married to an 18.7kWh battery giving buyers 56 miles of EV-only range, so most weekly errands can be completed without the use of the combustion engine at all.

In comparison, the twice-as-expensive Range Rover Velar PHEV has an EV-only range of just 30 miles.

A seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty and 124-showroom strong dealer network also provide customers with peace of mind and confidence in the product.

Rise of the Chinese brands 

In a window of just two years, Jaecoo - along with its sister marques Omoda and Chery - and BYD have gone from niche newcomers to mainstream.

BYD, which officially launched in the UK in 2023, in March 2025 sold 6,480 cars in Britain. 

Last month, it shifted 15,162 vehicles. That's 134 per cent growth, overtaking the likes of Peugeot, Hyundai, Skoda, Land Rover, Volvo and its EV rival Tesla.

The Chery Group brand trinity has upped its UK registrations from 3,868 last March to a staggering 22,495 units in 2026 - a whopping 480 per cent boom. That's all the more incredible given in March 2024 it had zero presence in the UK whatsoever.

Autotrader says Chery is one of the fastest newcomer brands on record to achieve 5 per cent market share, which is managed in a year and a half.

BYD took marginally longer at just under three. 

To put that into perspective, it took Korea’s Kia over 25 years to reach that milestone – and its sister brand Hyundai around 40 years.

With Chinese brands securing a 10 per cent share of the market in 2025, Autotrader has forecast that the arrival of more brands will see the region's manufacturers absorb 15 per cent of the market this year and 20 per cent in 2027.

Yet the SMMT figures show Chinese makers are already operating at a 15 per cent market share by the third month of the year. 

MG, BYD, Chery - along with a host of more recent entrants such as Changan, Geely, Leapmotor and XPeng - currently represent more than one in seven (15 per cent) new car registrations in 2026.

Ian Plummer, chief customer officer at Autotrader, says the emergence of the new Chinese marques are helping to drive 'affordability, availability and increased competition' across the market.

'Consistent sales growth through the first quarter shows that strong offers are bringing buyers back into showrooms,' he explained.

'That’s encouraging for the entire automotive ecosystem, as rising new car sales continue to also unlock supply that has constrained the used car market in recent years.'

March's best-selling new cars

1. Jaecoo 7: 10,064

The Jaecoo 7 in January became only the second Chinese car to be named Britain’s best-selling model in a month. The other time that feat was achieved was January 2023 and the MG HS.

The 7 SHS (Super Hybrid System) accounted for 85 per cent of all registrations last month, the company told us.

Gary Lan, CEO of Jaecoo UK, said: 'Securing the number one position in the UK – both for March – is a landmark moment for Jaecoo.

'The Jaecoo 7 has resonated strongly with British customers thanks to its combination of advanced technology, standout design and real-world usability, particularly with our Super Hybrid System.

'This result reflects not only the strength of the product, but also the commitment of our growing UK retail network and the confidence customers are placing in our brand.

'While we are relatively new to the market, our global Chery Group manufacturing base and extensive experience in vehicle exports have enabled us to adapt quickly to UK market needs and grow sustainably here [in the UK].'

2. Ford Puma: 9,163 

The Puma is Ford’s best-selling model on account of its impressive driving credentials and range of drivetrains.

It is underpinned by the same chassis as the last Fiesta generation axed in 2023, which gives it a sporty edge from behind the wheel.

The car is available with a choice of mild-hybrid petrol engines and there is an electric Gen-E variant equipped with a 43kWh battery pack and an electric motor to provide a claimed electric range of up to 233 miles.

3. Nissan Qashqai: 8,718

The British-built Nissan Qashqai has been a popular choice for many years.

The latest model features lots of standard equipment and comes with a decent amount of interior space. It’s available with frugal mild-hybrid and regular hybrid powertrains, too.

The latest e-Power hybrid can deliver a claimed 62mpg on the combined cycle, while emitting just 102g/km of CO2.

4. Kia Sportage: 7,310

The Kia Sportage is one of the best midsize SUVs on the market and - as such - recently dethroned the Qashqai as the nation's favourite family model.

It’s available with mild-hybrid and regular hybrid powertrains, while all models are great to drive, have a premium-feeling cabin and offer lots of practicality.

Plus, the Sportage comes with Kia’s seven-year or 100,000-mile warranty as standard, making it a great all-rounder in this sector of the market.

5. Vauxhall Corsa: 6,315

The Vauxhall Corsa is a sensible and practical supermini that is available with petrol, hybrid and electric powertrains.

It represents excellent value for money and shares the same chassis as the Peugeot 208. 

The Corsa isn’t the most exciting car on sale, but it provides a decent amount of space and with a 309-litre boot capacity, it should be an easy car to live with.

6. Volvo XC40: 6,311

The XC40 might have been around for nearly a decade, but that hasn’t put British buyers off this stylish Swedish alternative.

The XC40 is available with mild-hybrid or electric power, badged ‘EX40’, and is a comfortable, practical and premium-feeling SUV.

Its interior still feels fresh, with lots of soft-touch materials and it has some of the most comfortable seats fitted to a car on the market.

7. MG HS: 6,135

The HS is the second Chinese model to make the top 10 best sellers in March and is one of MG’s best models as it provides lots of space and a premium-feeling driving experience.

It’s available with petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, with the PHEV variant capable of travelling up to a claimed 75 miles on electric power.

Prices start at £26,245 making it one of the cheapest cars in its class, while all models come with equipment such as a 12.3-inch infotainment system, a reversing camera and a six-speaker audio system.

8. Volkswagen Golf: 5,890

The Volkswagen Golf is a tough act to follow if you’re looking for a practical and efficient family hatchback.

The latest model is available with mild-hybrid, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains, and there is even a five-door estate variant.

Behind the wheel, the Golf is solid, refined and handles well, making it one of the best all-round packages.

9. Tesla Model Y: 5,177

The Model Y is one of the world’s best-selling EVs and that’s because it provides lots of space and has a decent electric range.

Inside, it’s typically a Tesla with a minimalist design with no physical dials, while there is an 854-litre boot capacity, which is vast compared to a Skoda Enyaq’s 585-litre volume.

The entry-level ‘Standard Range’ car with its rear-wheel drive setup can manage a claimed 314 miles between trips to the plug.

10. BMW 1 Series – 4,936

The BMW 1 Series is a sporty, premium and good-to-drive hatchback that is a competitor to the Volkswagen Golf.

The latest model is the first 1 Series to use a front-wheel drive setup, while the interior is driver-focused with a low-seating position and angled dashboard design.

The M Sport model also boasts sports suspension, larger wheels and ‘M’ badging to give the car a much more aggressive appearance.

2026-04-09T06:20:31Z