UK new car sales hit highest September level since 2017, prelim data shows

Oct 2 (Reuters) - British new car registrations rose 12.1% in September from a year earlier to their highest level for the month since 2017, helped by strong demand for electric vehicles, according to preliminary data on Friday.

• Overall car registrations in the UK rose to 350,518 units last month, data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed

• Battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations rose 36.3% to 99,199 units in September, accounting for 28.3% of the market, supported by greater model choice, manufacturer discounts and government grants

• However, EVs accounted for just 26.2% of sales in the first nine months of the year, well below the 33% mandated for 2026 and even behind the 28% target for last year

• The Jaecoo 7 was the best-selling car model in September with 10,813 registrations, while Tesla's Model 3 was the best-selling BEV, followed by the Model Y and BYD's Sealion 7

• The SMMT will provide the final figures for the month at 0800 GMT on Monday