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New Car Demand Soars In June; BYD Triumphs With Euros Partnership
Visits to Auto Trader's new car platform surged by 28.5% year-on-year (YoY) in June, as brands increasingly focus on digital showrooms. BMW emerged as the most in-demand marque for the month, generating more views and leads than any other brand. BYD saw a 53% rise in demand, becoming the second most viewed new electric brand on Auto Trader, surpassing Tesla.
Despite a softening in retail registrations, consumer interest in new cars remains strong. Auto Trader recorded a 28.5% YoY increase in visits to its new car platform in June, marking the largest YoY increase in over two years. This rise follows a 22% and 21% growth in May and April, respectively.
- Image: Bex Kennett - Auto Trader's New Car Performance Director
The surge in demand is driven by a combination of increased choice and improving affordability. Brands are responding to new regulatory targets, growing competition, and increased production. In May, the volume of new cars advertised on Auto Trader grew by 8% compared to April. In the first two weeks of June alone, new car stock levels rose by over 21% versus January.
While baseline recommended retail prices (RRPs) continue to rise, car buyers benefit from reduced overall prices. More than half (53%) of all new car models advertised on Auto Trader recorded a gradual price reduction over the last 12 months. Average discounts have risen from 6.4% to 8.8%, with almost eight in ten new cars now offering some level of discount.
Auto Trader's data reveals that sponsorship of the 2024 Euros significantly influenced consumer interest in BYD. During the opening weekend, the all-electric Chinese brand saw a 69% rise in advert views of its new models compared to the prior week. As of June 21st, views softened slightly but remained over 53% higher than before the tournament began.
The Seal is now the second most viewed new electric vehicle (EV) model, just behind Hyundai's IONIQ 5. Before the tournament, BYD had already risen to the fifth most popular new electric brand on Auto Trader, accounting for a 5.6% share of all new EV advert views. Since June 14th, BYD has climbed to second place, behind BMW but ahead of Tesla.
BYD's conversion rate remains conservative at 2.9%, but with three weeks left in the tournament and a dedicated brand store on Auto Trader showcasing its heritage and quality, this gap is expected to close as awareness builds. The brand also benefits from its success at this year's Auto Trader New Car Awards, where the Atto 3 was named the UK's Best Value Electric Car.
BMW Leads June's Demand
BMW remains the most sought-after brand for both electric and all fuel types combined. In June, BMW accounted for an impressive 11.2% share of all new electric car enquiries and 17% of all new car enquiries sent to retailers on Auto Trader. Land Rover followed with a share of 9.6%, while Volkswagen held an 8.5% share.
Golf Takes Top Spot
At a model level, Volkswagen Golf replaced Land Rover Defender 110 as the UK's most in-demand brand-new car in June. The Defender recorded the largest drop in lead share (down 2.5%), slipping from first to tenth place. The Golf was previously the third most popular new car on Auto Trader in May.
Most In-Demand New Car Models
| Rank | Maker | Model | Share of Enquiries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Volkswagen | Golf | 3.8% |
| 2 | Nissan | Qashqai | 3.0% |
| 3 | Land Rover | Range Rover Sport | 2.8% |
| 4 | Land Rover | Range Rover | 2.4% |
| 5 | BMW | M3 | 2.3% |
| 6 | BMW | 3 Series | 1.9% |
| 7 | BMW | 1 Series | 1.6% |
| 8 | CUPRA | Formentor | 1.5% |
| 9 | Volkswagen | Tiguan | 1.5% |
| 10 | Land Rover | Defender 110 | 1.5% |
Most In-Demand New Car Brands
| Rank | Maker | Share of Enquiries |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BMW | 17.0% |
| 2 | Land Rover | 9.6% |
| 3 | Volkswagen | 8.5% |
| 4 | Audi | 7.3% |
| 5 | Nissan | 5.1% |
| 6 | Toyota | 4.4% |
| 7 | Hyundai | 4.0% |
| 8 | Ford | 3.5% |
| 9 | Peugeot | 3.4% |
| 10 | Kia | 3.4% |
Most In-Demand New Car Electric Models
| Rank | Maker | Model | Share of Enquiries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peugeot | E-2008 | 6.5% |
| 2 | Nissan | Leaf | 5.9% |
| 3 | MG | MG4 | 4.6% |
| 4 | Hyundai | IONIQ 5 | 3.9% |
| 5 | Audi | Q8 e-tron | 3.9% |
| 6 | Toyota | bZ4X | 3.5% |
| 7 | Renault | Megane E-Tech | 3.2% |
| 8 | Peugeot | E-208 | 3.1% |
| 9 | MG | MG ZS | 2.9% |
| 10 | Ford | Mustang Mach-E | 2.8% |
Most In-Demand New Car Brands (Electric Only)
| Rank | Maker | Share of Enquiries |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BMW | 11.2% |
| 2 | Peugeot | 11.0% |
| 3 | MG | 8.9% |
| 4 | Audi | 8.4% |
| 5 | Nissan | 7.4% |
| 6 | Hyundai | 7.1% |
| 7 | Renault | 4.4% |
| 8 | Tesla | 4.4% |
| 9 | Ford | 4.2% |
| 10 | Kia | 3.9% |
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