New car appetite in the UK accelerates in May

The UK’s new car market showed renewed strength in May, with fresh data from Auto Trader revealing a continued rise in consumer interest. Visits to Auto Trader’s new car platform climbed by 3% month-on-month and surged 14% compared to the same period last year, signalling a strong rebound after April’s seasonal slowdown.

Retailers are responding proactively to this sustained interest, ramping up their listings to meet demand. The number of new cars advertised on the platform has increased by 14% year-on-year, helping to connect more buyers with available stock.

Electric vehicles (EVs) also had a standout month, with Renault charging ahead thanks to the buzz surrounding its newly launched 5 E-Tech electric hatchback. The French automaker now tops Auto Trader’s chart for the most enquired-about new EVs, commanding a 9.1% share of interest. Renault also leads as the most popular new electric brand overall in May, with a 9.9% share of EV enquiries.

Across all fuel types, BMW retained its position as the most sought-after new car brand for the second consecutive month, securing a 12.3% share of enquiries. Meanwhile, Land Rover nudged past Volkswagen into second place with a 10.4% share, compared to VW’s 9.8%.

However, it’s not just European stalwarts enjoying the spotlight. Chinese carmakers are gaining serious traction. The Jaecoo 7, a compact SUV, surged into the top three most enquired-about models, climbing from 7th place in April to 3rd in May with a 2.8% share. It trailed only the Volkswagen Golf (2.9%) and Land Rover Range Rover Sport (3.6%). BYD also made gains, with its Seal U model jumping from ninth to sixth in the rankings, capturing 1.8% of all new car enquiries.

Despite the increased interest, discounting across the market remained stable. The average discount across all fuel types edged up slightly from 8.7% in April to 8.8% in May. Electric vehicle discounts softened marginally, dropping from 10.2% to 10.1%, likely influenced by the government’s recent Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate revisions.

Bex Kennett, Performance Director at Auto Trader, described May as an “encouraging month” for the new car sector, noting that buyer demand is picking up after the typical post-March lull.

“With interest in the new car market still buoyant, there is a great opportunity for retailers to capitalise on this by ensuring they stock some of the most in demand cars in front of the largest audience of car buyers,” she said.