Which new cars are most in‑demand before the September plate change? Discounts rise to 10.5%

Consumer activity spikes ahead of the September plate change

The approach of the September registration change is driving a noticeable lift in online research. Autotrader reports a 9% month‑on‑month rise in visits to its new‑car platform during August, putting traffic 2% ahead of the same period last year. Shoppers are clearly beginning to compare options before the arrival of the new ‘76 registration plates.

Dealers respond with more stock and deeper discounts

In line with growing consumer interest, the number of new‑car listings on Autotrader’s marketplace is up 18% year‑on‑year and 4% higher than in July. At the same time, the average discount offered across all fuel types has climbed to 10.5%, compared with 9.8% at this point in the previous year. This suggests that competition for the September buyer is becoming more intense.

Discounts on electric vehicles remain slightly above the market average at 11.2%, although that figure is a modest decline from the 11.3% recorded earlier in the year.

Top‑in‑demand new‑car models in August

Four of the ten models that have attracted the most enquiries so far this month come from Chinese manufacturers. The MG S9 leads the list with 4.1% of total leads, followed by the Range Rover Sport (3.2%), the Volkswagen Golf (3.0%) and the Jaecoo 7 (2.2%). The Chery Tiggo 8 sits in fifth place with 2.1% of enquiries.

1. MG S9 – 4.1%
2. Range Rover Sport – 3.2%
3. Volkswagen Golf – 3.0%
4. Jaecoo 7 – 2.2%
5. Chery Tiggo 8 – 2.1%
6. Land Rover Defender 110 – 2.1%
7. Renault 5 E‑Tech – 1.7%
8. Jaecoo 5 – 1.6%
9. BMW M5 – 1.6%
10. Range Rover – 1.6%

When the figures are rolled up to the brand level, MG is the second‑most requested new‑car brand in August with a 9.1% share of enquiries. BMW remains the leader at 10.2%, while Land Rover holds third place with 8.1% and is followed by Audi and Volkswagen.

Chinese manufacturers make a strong showing

Jaecoo appears in the top‑ten list twice (Jaecoo 7 at fourth and Jaecoo 5 at eighth), giving Chinese marques four positions overall. This reinforces the trend of increasing buyer interest in models from China alongside continued demand for established premium brands such as Land Rover.

Electric‑vehicle demand and the models that stand out

The electric‑vehicle segment tells a slightly different story. While the overall EV discount rate is marginally higher than the broader market, the models that dominate buyer enquiries are still largely from long‑standing manufacturers.

The Renault 5 E‑Tech Electric tops the EV list with 5.6% of enquiries, followed by the Skoda Elroq (3.8%) and the Jaecoo 5 (3.7%). BMW’s iX3 ranks fourth at 3.2%, with the MG S5 and Hyundai Inster completing the top six.

1. Renault 5 E‑Tech Electric – 5.6%
2. Skoda Elroq – 3.8%
3. Jaecoo 5 – 3.7%
4. BMW iX3 – 3.2%
5. MG S5 – 2.7%
6. Hyundai Inster – 2.5%
7. Alpine A290 – 2.3%
8. Kia EV3 – 2.3%
9. Cupara Raval – 2.2%
10. Skoda Enyaq – 2.1%

Even though established manufacturers dominate the model rankings, MG emerges as the most popular EV brand overall, accounting for 8.3% of electric‑car enquiries. BMW follows with 7.5% and Kia sits close behind at 7.4%.

What the data means for September

Bex Kennett, head of new‑car at Autotrader, summed up the outlook: “We’re seeing encouraging signs ahead of September’s plate change, with consumers becoming increasingly active as they begin researching their next new car. At the same time, retailers and manufacturers are preparing for a key sales period through increased stock availability and competitive offers. What’s particularly interesting is the breadth of demand we’re seeing across the market. Whilst established brands continue to dominate electric‑vehicle consideration, Chinese brands are increasingly attracting buyer interest across the wider new‑car market. Taken together, these trends point to a competitive and positive September registration period ahead.”