► How UK new car market fared last year
► Preliminary full-year figures for 2024 revealed
► EV sales rise but below mandated levels
New car registrations increased by 2.6 per cent in 2024, according to data revealed today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Sales increased to 1.953 million units, with electric cars growing by 21.4 per cent to 382,000 registrations. EVs accounted for 19.6 per cent of the overall market in 2024, but failed to meet the 22 per cent set out by the government in its ZEV mandate.
But this growth isn’t as promising or natural as it first looks. Our analysts have pored over the SMMT data to provide a detailed look of the 2024 UK new car sales figures, including a full breakdown of the winners and losers, the UK’s best-selling car brands and more.
Overall sales up but still below pre-pandemic levels
New car registrations increased by a modest 2.6 per cent in 2024, with a total of 1.952 million units being sold, though the growth flattened towards the end of the year – even amid a push for EV registrations, which we’ll explore in the next section. While sales were up, they are still well behind pre-pandemic levels, when 2.311 million units were registered in 2019.
Registrations of electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid models all increased last year, with petrol and diesel both down overall. That said, petrol remains by far the most dominant fuel, with a 52.2 per cent share, if down on a 56 per cent share in 2023.
ZEV mandate results in forced electric car sales
The biggest worry for manufacturers this year has been the ZEV mandate, which came into force in 2024 and requires every manufacturer to sell a certain percentage of electric cars otherwise they face steep fines. For 2024, firms had to hit a 22 per cent EV share.
While EVs accounted for a 19.6 per cent share in 2024, behind the mandated figure, the Department for Transport (DfT) put out a statement saying it was “confident the whole market has complied” and “no manufacturer will need to pay fines”. This is based on the flexibilities in the scheme that can allow firms to borrow credits from firms with an already high EV share or defer for a year while firms ramp up EV sales, even if they did not hit it in 2024.
Despite this, the SMMT figures still reveal a desperate push at the end of the year from manufacturers to register as many EVs as possible, with EVs accounting for a 31 per cent share in December, well above the average for the year of 19.6 per cent. If you delve deeper into those figures, it’s obvious that with petrol sales down by around 15,000 units in the month, and EVs up by around the same number, the rumours that some manufacturers were limiting the number of ICE cars they were selling in the last months were very much true.
The SMMT also believes that EVs only have a natural demand of around 11 or 12 per cent, with Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT saying that it’s “clear demand has not matched the assumptions behind the mandate when it was conceived”.
The UK’s best-selling cars of 2024 – and it’s dominated by SUVs.
The Ford Puma has retained its position as the UK’s best-selling car in 2024, with 48,340 sold throughout the year. It narrowly beats the Kia Sportage on 48,340 registrations and the British-built Nissan Qashqai on 42,418.
All five of the top five best-selling cars in 2024 were SUVs for the first time, with only two non-SUVs in the top 10. While the Tesla Model Y the only pure-electric car to make the list overall in the year, if you look at the list for December, it’s dominated by electric models – showing the push to sell as many EVs as possible in that final month.
The full list is as follows:
- Ford Puma – 48,340 registrations
- Kia Sportage – 47,163
- Nissan Qashqai – 42.418
- Nissan Juke – 34,454
- Tesla Model Y – 32,862
- Volkswagen Golf – 32,370
- Hyundai Tucson – 32,174
- MG HS – 30,207
- Volvo XC40 – 30,202
- Volkswagen Polo – 28,981
The UK’s best-selling electric cars 2024
A delve into the list of the best-selling electric cars gives a good idea as to who is storming it with their EVs and who is struggling. It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that it’s the Tesla Model Y up there at the top, with an impressive 32,862 examples sold over the course of the year, almost twice as many as the next EV.
More of a surprise is the Audi Q4 e-tron (17,622) up there as the second most popular EV, even outselling the Tesla Model 3 (17,425). Volkswagen will be disappointed that its ID.4 (8,927) only just sneaks into the top 10, while the Volvo EX30 (9,931) had an excellent first full year on sale.
The full list is as follows:
- Tesla Model Y – 32,862 registrations
- Audi Q4 e-tron – 17,465
- Tesla Model 3 – 17,425
- MG4 – 15,651
- BMW i4 – 12.953
- Mercedes EQA – 11,617
- Skoda Enyaq – 11,617
- Hyundai Kona – 10,858
- Volvo EX30 – 9,931
- Volkswagen ID.4 – 8,927
Who sold the most cars in 2024?
Volkswagen remains the UK’s most popular car brand by some margin, with 166k cars registered in 2024. BMW (125k) overtook Audi (122k) and Kia had its best year ever with 112k cars registered. The Sportage alone accounts for 42 per cent of Kia’s volume.
Ford (110k) slipped by three places to fifth position, while Mercedes (103k) had a stellar year and climbed ninth to sixth. Nissan (100k) retained its position but saw sales climb from ever- growing popularity of its Juke and Qashqai, which combined count more than 75 per cent of Nissan’s sales. It was also the only manufacturer to have two cars in the top 10.
Hyundai (92k) climbed a place into ninth, while MG (82k) sneaked into the top 10 brands list for the first time.
Who were the winning car brands in 2024?
In terms of outright percentage growth, it’s BYD up there at the top with a gigantic 659 per cent increase on its 2023 performance. With sales of 8,788, it registered more cars than Polestar. New Chinese firm Omoda had a strong start, too, with a policy of getting as many cars out there as possible resulting in strong numbers, with an extensive demo fleet and established dealer network already in operation. It registered a healthy 3,629 cars in its first year – more than triple that of Ora.
Jeep also had a bumper year courtesy of its Avenger, which helped it to almost triple its 2023 sales, registering 9,041 cars last year. Smart also had a good year with continued growth for its #1 and #3, with sales up 153 per cent, though it still sold shy of 2,000 cars.
As for more mainstream car brands that had a bumper 2024, up there at the top is Renault, which saw registrations surge by 36 per cent to 57,967 sales, helped by strong demand for its Clio, Austral and electric Scenic. Volvo also saw its sales grow once again, registering 66,408 cars in the year. Just shy of half of these were its compact XC40, which continues to prove hugely popular, and the electric EX30 also had an excellent first year.
And just as a surprise, Jaguar had one final blow out of its ‘old’ era, with sales growing 17 per cent in 2024 to 16,617 units as it rushed to clear stock before the end of year.
Who were the losing car brands in 2024?
Once favourites of the British public, Ford and Vauxhall, were two brands to suffer in 2024. Ford sales fell by 24 per cent, but that equates to almost 35,000 fewer cars being sold last year than in 2023. Though the Puma remained the UK’s best-seller, the knock-on effect of no longer having the Fiesta, and dwindling Focus sales, did the Blue Oval’s car sales no favours. It should be said, however, that Ford remains the leader in the van world, with its Transit Custom, big Transit and Ranger making up the three best-selling commercial vehicles.
Vauxhall sales also fell more than 20,000 units year-on-year, and were down 21 per cent to 78,000 units. The Corsa has really fell of buyers’ shopping lists, going from being the UK’s most popular car in 2021 to not even being a part of the top 10. It’s also the first time in decades Vauxhall wasn’t one of the top 10 car brands, even being overtaken by MG.
On a more niche level, DS continues to struggle as buyers just don’t consider the French premium brand, with sales down 52 per cent to just 1,152 units. Even Genesis sold more cars than DS last year. Other disappointments include Maserati, which saw sales dip by 47.4 per cent – all the more worrying considering it’s the first full year Maserati has sold its more compact Grecale SUV, which should have spurred growth. It sold just 469 cars in 2024.
After a positive start, Ineos struggled to keep momentum with its Grenadier, with sales falling by 60 per cent to just 350 units. Polestar has also had a struggle in 2024, with management changes and financial struggles not helping its fortunes. Sales fell by 31 per cent to 8,693 units, more the disappointing considering it introduced both the Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 in 2024, albeit later in the year.
Check out the full table of 2024 new-car sales figures from the SMMT here.
| | YEAR-TO-DATE | % Change |
| MARQUE | 2024 | % Market share | 2023 | % Market share |
| Abarth | 1,027 | 0.05 | 886 | 0.05 | 15.91 |
| Alfa Romeo | 1,666 | 0.09 | 1,546 | 0.08 | 7.76 |
| Alpine | 371 | 0.02 | 297 | 0.02 | 24.92 |
| Audi | 122,431 | 6.27 | 137,485 | 7.22 | -10.95 |
| Bentley | 919 | 0.05 | 1,312 | 0.07 | -29.95 |
| BMW | 125,265 | 6.41 | 111,734 | 5.87 | 12.11 |
| BYD | 8,788 | 0.45 | 1,158 | 0.06 | 658.89 |
| Chevrolet | 1 | 0.00 | 102 | 0.01 | -99.02 |
| Citroen | 30,371 | 1.56 | 30,931 | 1.63 | -1.81 |
| Cupra | 30,398 | 1.56 | 25,658 | 1.35 | 18.47 |
| Dacia | 31,457 | 1.61 | 28,651 | 1.51 | 9.79 |
| DS | 1,152 | 0.06 | 2,403 | 0.13 | -52.06 |
| Fiat | 14,253 | 0.73 | 16,598 | 0.87 | -14.13 |
| Fisker | 259 | 0.01 | 160 | 0.01 | 61.88 |
| Ford | 109,955 | 5.63 | 144,072 | 7.57 | -23.68 |
| Genesis | 1,210 | 0.06 | 1,362 | 0.07 | -11.16 |
| Honda | 30,636 | 1.57 | 25,274 | 1.33 | 21.22 |
| Hyundai | 91,808 | 4.70 | 87,112 | 4.58 | 5.39 |
| Ineos | 350 | 0.02 | 877 | 0.05 | -60.09 |
| Jaecoo | 209 | 0.01 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Jaguar | 16,617 | 0.85 | 14,235 | 0.75 | 16.73 |
| Jeep | 9,041 | 0.46 | 3,089 | 0.16 | 192.68 |
| KGM | 1,617 | 0.08 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Kia | 112,252 | 5.75 | 107,765 | 5.66 | 4.16 |
| Land Rover | 61,290 | 3.14 | 53,388 | 2.81 | 14.80 |
| Lexus | 16,651 | 0.85 | 15,963 | 0.84 | 4.31 |
| Maserati | 469 | 0.02 | 892 | 0.05 | -47.42 |
| Maxus | 31 | 0.00 | 13 | 0.00 | 138.46 |
| Mazda | 28,429 | 1.46 | 30,495 | 1.60 | -6.77 |
| Mercedes-Benz | 102,757 | 5.26 | 87,782 | 4.61 | 17.06 |
| MG | 81,536 | 4.18 | 81,289 | 4.27 | 0.30 |
| Mini | 46,975 | 2.41 | 47,594 | 2.50 | -1.30 |
| Nissan | 100,446 | 5.14 | 89,460 | 4.70 | 12.28 |
| Omoda | 3,629 | 0.19 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Ora | 1,162 | 0.06 | 911 | 0.05 | 27.55 |
| Peugeot | 68,905 | 3.53 | 62,401 | 3.28 | 10.42 |
| Polestar | 8,693 | 0.45 | 12,543 | 0.66 | -30.69 |
| Porsche | 20,000 | 1.02 | 24,241 | 1.27 | -17.50 |
| Renault | 57,967 | 2.97 | 42,545 | 2.24 | 36.25 |
| Seat | 36,782 | 1.88 | 32,177 | 1.69 | 14.31 |
| Skoda | 78,601 | 4.03 | 70,024 | 3.68 | 12.25 |
| Skywell | 6 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Smart | 1,981 | 0.10 | 785 | 0.04 | 152.36 |
| Ssangyong | 0 | 0.00 | 1,660 | 0.09 | 0.00 |
| Subaru | 2,419 | 0.12 | 2,409 | 0.13 | 0.42 |
| Suzuki | 23,059 | 1.18 | 26,574 | 1.40 | -13.23 |
| Tesla | 50,334 | 2.58 | 49,571 | 2.60 | 1.54 |
| Toyota | 101,444 | 5.19 | 109,864 | 5.77 | -7.66 |
| Vauxhall | 78,895 | 4.04 | 100,417 | 5.28 | -21.43 |
| Volkswagen | 166,304 | 8.52 | 162,087 | 8.52 | 2.60 |
| Volvo | 66,408 | 3.40 | 50,184 | 2.64 | 32.33 |
| Other British | 3,452 | 0.18 | 3,359 | 0.18 | 2.77 |
| Other Imports | 2,100 | 0.11 | 1,719 | 0.09 | 22.16 |
| Total | 1,952,778 | | 1,903,054 | | 2.61 |