2:15 pm, July 24, 2026
Chinese manufacturers are continuing to win over UK new car buyers ahead of the crucial September plate change, with MG, Jaecoo and Chery all featuring prominently in Autotrader’s latest enquiry rankings.
New data from the marketplace shows the MG MGS9 is the most in-demand new car in July to date, accounting for 5.8 per cent of all new car enquiries, ahead of the MG HS (3.5 per cent) and Jaecoo 7 (3.0 per cent). In total, Chinese brands occupy five places in the top 10 most-enquired models, with the Jaecoo 5 and Chery Tiggo 8 also making the list.
MG also topped the brand rankings with a 13.3 per cent share of enquiries, ahead of BMW (10.2 per cent) and Audi (7.9 per cent), while Jaecoo and Chery ranked sixth and ninth respectively. However, Autotrader said the figures reflect growing interest in specific Chinese models rather than a wholesale shift in buyer demand.
The picture is more mixed in the electric vehicle market, where established manufacturers continue to dominate. The Renault 5 E-Tech Electric is the most-enquired EV in July with a 5.5 per cent share of leads, ahead of the Jaecoo 5 (4.2 per cent) and BMW iX3 (3.9 per cent). Ford Explorer and Hyundai Inster complete the top five.
At brand level, MG remains the leading electric marque with a 9.7 per cent share of enquiries, but European, Korean and US manufacturers account for seven of the top 10 brands, including Renault, Kia, BMW, Hyundai, Audi, Ford and Tesla.
The figures come as retailers prepare for the September registration change. Autotrader reported that visits to its new car platform increased 11per cent year-on-year in the last quarter, while advertised new car stock is 16 per cent higher than the same point in 2025, suggesting both consumer demand and retailer readiness are strengthening.
Meanwhile, average new car discounts have softened to 10.3 per cent in July from earlier summer levels, although they remain above the 9.4 per cent recorded in July 2025. EV discounts have also edged down from 11.6per cent in June to 11.3 per cent this month.
Commenting on the data, Bex Kennett, head of new car at Autotrader, said: ‘The latest data points to a new car market that is becoming increasingly competitive as we approach the September plate change. Chinese-brand models are gaining traction, with five appearing in our July top 10, but it’s important to keep that in context. Established brands continue to account for a significant share of demand, particularly in electric, where the rankings remain highly competitive.
‘For retailers, the key point is that buyer attention is becoming more fragmented. Compelling products, competitive pricing and the right stock mix will be especially important in the run-up to September.’