New UK car sales tipped for 2026 growth
New UK car sales are expected to grow by 3.1% across the year, according to Cox Automotive’s latest new car market forecasts.
It found that new car sales rose 5.9% in the first quarter of the year compared to a global contraction of two per cent.
Based on this, Cox Automotive is now predicting new car sales to reach 2,082,665 units in 2026.
Growth is being driven by new entrants to market, with a recent consumer study commissioned by Cox Automotive revealing that 36% of motorists said their preferred vehicle manufacturer had changed in the last six months. That figure was up at 52% among drivers under 34 years old.
Resilience
Philip Nothard, insight director at Cox Automotive, said: “The new car market continues to demonstrate a degree of resilience that, on the surface, is encouraging.
“However, the composition of that growth matters. Much of quarter one’s performance was driven by pre-registered stock and fleet-led activity ahead of the intensification of the Middle East conflict, rather than a genuine uplift in consumer demand. As those tailwinds fade heading into quarter two, the true picture of underlying market health will become clearer.
“The rise of new market entrants is a double-edged dynamic. For consumers, it means greater choice and more competitive pricing, both of which support market volumes at a time when affordability is under real pressure. For established manufacturers and retailers, it requires a sharper focus on value propositions, customer experience and operational efficiency.”
