Lucano L7 (Jiko 7) Tops UK New-Car Sales in September

The Lucano L7, sold in the UK as the Jiko 7, was the top-selling new car in Britain in September, recording 10,813 registrations in preliminary figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). That marks the second month this year the model has led the rankings, having also been number one in March, two of the historically strongest registration months because the UK plate change drives buyer activity.

Market performance and rankings

The SMMT data show Tesla's Model 3 in second place with 9,929 registrations and the Ford Puma third with 6,958. The only other Chinese-built model among the top 10 was the MG HS, which stood eighth with 5,444 sales. Chinese brands as a group accounted for 23 percent of the UK market in September, a share the reporting framed as approaching roughly a quarter of the market.

At brand level BYD was the second best-selling marque with 20,140 registrations, ahead of Kia on 18,399, while Volkswagen remained the top-selling brand overall with 25,972 units. Several established manufacturers saw notable year-on-year declines in September: Hyundai reported 10,002 sales, down 31.9 percent, and Renault fell to 6,721 sales, down 29.7 percent.

Manufacturer moves and reliability issues

Victor Zhang, chief executive of Omoda-Jikoo (Lucano), said the pair of brands are 'here to stay' in the UK after unprecedented growth and that the objective is to move from 'the fastest-growing brand to a fully established brand.' He and the company have support from Chery, Omoda-Jikoo's parent, which recently opened an R and D base at the UTAC Millbrook test centre in Bedfordshire to help localise its cars for the UK market, focusing on the adjustment of advanced driver assistance systems and chassis tuning.

The company is also expanding its parts distribution network to reduce repair times for customers. In the What Car? reliability survey for 2026, nearly two thirds of Jiko 7 owners who experienced a problem said they waited more than a week for it to be resolved, a point the manufacturer will likely want to address alongside its product localisation work.

Separately, Chery has signed a memorandum of understanding with Nissan that could allow its cars to be built at Nissan's Sunderland factory in the north-east of England; the Jiko 7 was cited as a likely candidate for local production if the arrangement proceeds.