The Chery-owned Jaecoo brand has achieved a historic milestone in the United Kingdom, with the J7 SUV overtaking the Ford Puma to become Britain’s best-selling new car in March 2026.
The J7 recorded 10,064 registrations for the month, finishing 871 units ahead of the second-placed Ford Puma on 9193. The Nissan Qashqai placed third with 8718 units, followed by the Kia Sportage on 7310.
It marks the first time a Chinese-branded vehicle has topped the UK new car sales charts.
The result is particularly remarkable given Jaecoo only entered the UK market in late 2024, with the J7 available to order from January 2025. The J7 now sits second in year-to-date rankings with 15,569 registrations, closing in on the Ford Puma’s 16,128 for the first quarter.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) variants equipped with Jaecoo’s Super Hybrid System (SHS-P) accounted for 85% of J7 sales during March. The PHEV version offers a combined range of up to 745 miles and is priced from £29,105 to £35,175, undercutting most plug-in hybrid rivals in the segment.
Jaecoo UK chief executive Gary Lan says securing the number one position is a landmark moment for the brand, crediting the J7’s combination of advanced technology, design and real-world usability.
Strong UK market performance
The broader UK market also posted strong results for March. Overall registrations grew 6.6% to 380,627 units, making it the strongest March since 2019. Electric vehicle registrations hit a record 86,120 units for the month, although the 22.6% market share remains well short of the government’s 33% ZEV Mandate target for 2026.
Jaecoo’s UK retail network has grown to 124 locations. Together with sister brand Omoda, the two Chery sub-brands have moved more than 80,000 vehicles in the UK in 19 months.
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