By Dominic Chopping

U.K. new-car sales rose 7.1% in May, as consumers responded to competitive deals and a wider choice of vehicles, an industry body said.

A total of 160,662 new cars were registered in May, compared with 150,070 in the same month last year, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said Thursday.

The increase was largely driven by a 17% rise in demand from private buyers amid increasingly competitive offers from an unprecedented range of brands and a 6.4% increase in model choice, SMMT said.

The fleet market registered a 1.8% increase and the much smaller business sector saw a 19% decrease in volumes.

Battery electric vehicle registrations increased 34% to take 27.3% of the market, while hybrid electric vehicle uptake rose 1.8% and plug-in hybrid demand increased 24%.

SMMT said that growing EV demand reflects both expanding model choice and substantial manufacturer discounting that continues to play a significant role in driving uptake. Government support, including the Electric Car Grant, has also helped stimulate demand, alongside rising consumer interest amid wider economic and geopolitical uncertainty.

However, the transition to zero-emission mobility remains well behind the mandated target. Battery electric vehicles account for just 23.9% of the market in the year-to-date, well below the 33% U.K. government-mandated target for 2026.

"A review of the transition is now urgent to ensure ambition matches market realities and we have a sustainable path to road transport decarbonization," SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said.

Registrations of gasoline vehicles fell 7.1% in May to 66,223 units, while diesel registrations fell 2.2% to 7,622 units.

The U.K.'s top two best-selling cars in May were the Ford Puma and Kia Sportage, according to the SMMT.

Write to Dominic Chopping at dominic.chopping@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 04, 2026 05:51 ET (09:51 GMT)

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