UK September 2025: Jaecoo 7 up to #4, BYD Seal U #6, BEVs reach record volume

The Seal U is the first BYD model to crack the UK Top 10.

September is a new numberplate month and traditionally accounts for 1 in 7 annual sales. This year volumes are up a stunning 13.7% to 312,891, the best September result since 2020. Year-to-date sales are up 4.2% to 1,578,172. Private sales trail the market at +8.9% to 131,003 and 41.9% share vs. 43.7% in September 2024 while fleet sales advance 16.9% to 174,336 and 55.7% share vs. 54.2% a year ago. Business sales soar 28.6% to 7,552 and 2.4% share vs. 2.1%. Year-to-date, this time private sales are up 4.8% to 616,972 and 39.1% share vs. 38.9% over the same period in 2024 with fleet sales up 3.8% to 926,352 and 58.7% share vs. 58.9% and  business sales up 5.2% to 34,848 and 2.2% share.

The Jaecoo 7 is up to an incredible 4th place overall in September.

One of the main events this month is the volume reached by BEVs, up 29.1% to 72,779 and 23.3% share vs. 20.5% a year ago. This is the highest monthly score in UK history. PHEVs surge 56.4% to 38,308 and 12.2% share vs. 8.9% in September 2024, HEVs are up 23.5% to 47,885 and 15.3% share vs. 14.1%, petrol edges up 2.4% to 141,310 and 45.2% share vs. 50.1% and diesel sinks -28.2% to 12,609 and 4% share vs. 6.4%. Through September, BEVs are up 29.4% to 349,414 and 22.1% share vs. 17.8% last year, PHEVs gain 38.2% to 172,639 and 10.9% share vs. 8.3%, HEVs are up 8.6% to 222,669 and 14.1% share vs. 13.5%, petrol drops -8.2% to 749,794 and 47.5% share vs. 53.9% and diesel falls -14.3% to 83,656 and 5.3% share vs. 6.4% in 2024.

Over in the brands charts, Volkswagen (+10.3%) easily keeps the lead with 8.1% share. It is followed this month by Kia (+3.6%) up five spots on August to #2 and BMW (+40.7%) staying at #3. Audi (+1%) and Ford (+3.2%) are more discreet and round out the Top 5. In fact MG (+62.7%) is the only additional Top 10 member in positive, posting its highest ranking and share for the year at #8 and 4.7%. Mercedes (-13.4%) and Nissan (-7.3%) struggle. Below, Peugeot (+42.8%), Vauxhall (+29.7%) and Volvo (+23.3%) stun but the performer of the month is without a doubt BYD, up 10-fold year-on-year (+880.1%) to reach a record 15th place with 3.6% share, and smashing its volume record to 11,271 (previous best 6,480 last March). BYD notably outsells Tesla (+4.4%). The other standout performer is fellow Chinese fare Jaecoo, breaking into the Top 20 for the first time at #18 with 2.1% share thanks to a single model as we’ll see further down. Omoda (+299.9%) hits a record share at 1.4%.

Model-wise, the Kia Sportage (+26.4%) lodges its 4th win so far this year but remains well below the Ford Puma (+24.4%) in the year-to-date race. The Nissan Qashqai (+37.8%) is back to the third place it holds year-to-date. Far from being a freak event, the #6 August ranking of the Jaecoo 7 was just a sign of things to come: the new nameplate is up to a surreal 4th place overall in the all-important month of September! And below the Vauxhall Corsa at a strong #5, we have another surprise: the BYD Seal U breaks into the UK Top 10 for the very first time, landing directly at #6 wth 1.7% share. This is the first time (but assuredly not the last) that a BYD model manages to rank inside the UK Top 10.

Previous month: UK August 2025: Jaecoo 7 up to 6th place

One year ago: UK September 2024: BEVs at 20.5% share, Kia Sportage back to #1

Full September 2025 Top 52 All brands and Top 10 models below.