Not Ford, Jaecoo or Nissan - UK's best-selling car named and it's unexpected

A Tesla model unexpectedly topped the UK sales chart in June 2026, displacing familiar contenders to become the best-selling vehicle of the month. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reported 6,765 registrations for the Tesla Model Y, with the Tesla Model 3 in second place at 5,408 units, ahead of brands such as Ford, Kia, and Nissan. The article notes that earlier this year the rankings were consistently led by models including the Ford Puma, Kia Sportage, Jaecoo 7, Nissan Qashqai, and Vauxhall Corsa. It links Tesla’s momentum to a perceived easing of concerns from the prior year, when Musk’s political engagement was associated with buyer reconsideration and sales fell in some segments. It also cites a broader shift toward electrified vehicles, supported partly by higher petrol prices during geopolitical instability, including conflict involving Iran during Donald Trump’s presidency. SMMT says the overall UK new car market rose 11.4% to 213,166 registrations, driven entirely by electrified vehicles, while battery electric cars reached their highest market share this year. Mike Hawes warned adoption still lags behind mandated targets.