UK February 2026: Best February in 22 years, Ford Puma smashes share record

The Ford Puma holds a record 3.6% of the UK market in February.

The UK new car market is up by a solid 7.2% year-on-year in February to 90,100 units. This is the strongest February volume in 22 years: since the 91,460 sales of February 2004. The year-to-date tally is up 4.8% to 234,227. Encouragingly, private sales surge 17.6% to 35,227 and 39.1% share vs. 35.6% in February 2025, while fleet sales only edge up 1.8% to 53,506 and 59.4% share vs. 62.5% a year ago. Business sales are down -12.7% to 1,367 and 1.5% share vs. 1.9%. Year-to-date, private sales are up 9.4% to 87,624 and 37.4% share vs. 35.8% over the first two months of 2025, fleet sales are up 1.7% to 141,777 and 60.5% share vs. 62.4% and business sales up 22.8% to 4,826 and 2.1% share vs. 1.8%.

Looking at sales by fuel type, petrol is up 5.2% to 41,935 units, diesel is off -3.8% to 4,080, HEV up 3.3% to 11,807 and PHEV up 43.5% to 10,438 and 11.6% share vs. 8.7% a year ago. BEV sales are up just 2.8% to 21,840 and 24.2% share vs. 25.3% in February 2025. This is the second straight month that BEVs lose share year-on-year. Year-to-date, petrol edges up 0.7% to 110,692, diesel is off -7.2% to 11,942, HEV up 4.2% to 31,104 and PHEV up 45.9% to 28,995 and 12.4% share vs. 8.9% over the first two months of 2025. BEVs are up just 1.2% to 51,494 and 22% share vs. 22.8% last year.

Source: SMMT

Volkswagen (-11.5%) struggles year-on-year but remains the favourite car brand in the country with 7.9% share. Ford (+36.6%) rallies back up to 2nd place with 6.7% of the market, its best performance since last August. BMW (-2.1%) for its part repeats at #3 ahead of Mercedes (+33.9%) and Audi (+17.2%), the three German premium carmakers all fitting within a hundred sales. Skoda (+17.3%) and Vauxhall (+16.1%) also impress, while further down BYD (+83%), Jaecoo (+179.7%), Citroen (+82.8%), Omoda (+147.8%) and Suzuki (+77.6%) stand out. Tesla is off -37.1%.

Over in the models charts, the Ford Puma (+119.6%) more than doubles its sales year-on-year to reclaim the top spot it has held over the past three years, both for the month and YTD. The nameplate even smashes its UK share record to 3.6%, its previous best being 3.2% hit in April 2024, November 2025 and December 2025. The Kia Sportage (+45.4%) is also in outstanding shape at #2, while last year’s leader the Mini Cooper (-11.9%) ends the month at #3. The Tesla Model 3 (-20.4%) reappears at #4 with the Jaecoo 7 confirming its stunning success in the UK at #5, the model’s 7th straight monthly Top 10 finish.

Previous month: UK January 2026: Jaecoo 7 up to #2

One year ago: UK February 2025: Mini Cooper best-seller

Full February 2026 Top 52 All brands and Top 10 models below.