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

The Mini Cooper is up to #4 overall in July.

Data by local association SMMT shows a UK new car market down -5% year-on-year in July to 140,154 units. This is the weakest July result since 2022, and -10.8% lower than pre-pandemic July 2019. According to SMMT, the newly announced Electric Car Grant (ECG), with discounts of up to £3,750, may have caused some buyers to hold off pending confirmation of which vehicles will qualify. The YTD tally is now up just 2.4% to 1,182,373, this time the highest result since 2019 (1,426,443). Private sales drop -3.2% to 51,646 and 36.8% share vs. 36.2% last year while fleet sales fall -6.5% to 85,594 and 61.1% share vs. 62%. Business sales rise 10.4% to 2,914 and 2.1% share vs. 1.8%. So far this year, private sales are up an encouraging 4% to 453,650 and 38.4% share vs. 37.8% over the same period in 2024, fleets edge up 1.6% to 703,035 and 59.5% share vs. 59.9% and business sales are down -1.6% to 25,688.

Looking at power source, petrol is down -14.7% to 66,271 and 47.3% share vs. 52.7% a year ago, diesel is down a more measured -7.9% to 8,018 and 5.7% share vs. 5.9% and HEVs fall -10% to 18,551 and 13.2% share vs. 14%. PHEVs surge 33% to 17,489 and 12.5% share vs. 8.9% and BEVs improve 9.1% to 29,825 and 21.3% share vs. 18.5% in July 2024. Year-to-date, petrol drops -10.1% to 571,111 and 48.3% share vs. 55% last year, diesel is down -10.9% to 66,740 and 5.6% share vs. 6.5%, HEVs gain 6.5% to 165,328 and 14% share vs. 13.5%, PHEVs soar 31.5% to 124,528 and 10.5% share vs. 8.2% and BEVs surge 31% to 254,666 and 21.5% share vs. 16.8% over the same period in 2024.

Over in the brands charts, Volkswagen (-4.2%) is by far the most popular with 9.6% share vs. 9.1% YTD, and the only one above 10,000 sales for the month. In 2nd place, Ford (+16.5%) posts a third straight double-digit YoY gain to 6.5% share vs. #4 and 5.9% so far this year. The next four carmakers are in negative, with Kia (-7.5%), Audi (-7.3%) and BMW (-18.2%) losing share year-on-year and Hyundai (-4.6%) matching the market. Skoda (+30.2%) excels at #7 with 4.8% share, as does Peugeot (+33.4%), but Nissan (-22.7%) and Mercedes (-15.5%) both disappoint. Further down the charts, Mini (+46.6%) is up seven spots on last month to #14, Cupra (+30.1%) is up to #17 and BYD (+314.6%) continues to gear up at 2.3% share. Chinese newcomers Jaecoo (#21) and Omoda (#22) are both strong.

The Kia Sportage (+12.1%) snaps a third monthly win this year after January and April, but with the Ford Puma (+29%) less than 100 units below, this is not enough to grab the YTD top spot. The Nissan Juke (+20.5%) climbs to the third step of the podium, its best ranking since last September when it also ranked #3. The Mini Cooper rallies back up to #4, its 4th Top 10 finish this year. Excellent score also by the VW Tiguan at #5, the nameplate’s 2nd highest ranking ever, below the #4 it reached exactly in October 2018. The Peugeot 2008 scores its 4th straight Top 10 finish and highest ranking since last January at #7. The T-Roc and Golf make it three VWs in the Top 10.

Previous month: UK June 2025: BEVs up 39.1%, Hyundai hits record #4, Nissan Qashqai best-seller

One year ago: UK July 2024: Kia Sportage threepeats at #1, Volvo XC40 up to record #4

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