Britons bought 156,500 new cars last month, up almost 12 per cent year-on-year and marking the strongest performance since before the pandemic.The growth was driven by a sharp increase in EV demand, with new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showing battery-powered cars reached another major milestone.A total of 43,106 fully electric vehicles were registered in July, a 44.5 per cent increase on a year earlier. This saw EVs represent more than one in four (27.5 per cent) of all new cars delivered to customers.That equates to roughly six new EVs entering Britain's roads for every new diesel car sold.The boom has been aided by elevated fuel prices following conflict in the Middle East, the introduction of the Government's Electric Car Grant (ECG), continued manufacturer incentives and a growing range of lower-cost electric models.However, despite the record performance, the industry says EV sales remain some way short of the Government's mandated 33 per cent market share target for 2026.Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, described the latest figures as a 'great achievement' that 'reflects industry's huge investment in zero-emission mobility'.However, he warned manufacturers cannot continue funding demand through costly incentives.The UK´s new car market grew by 11.7% in July compared with the same month last year, new figures show Last month saw the largest volume of new car deliveries recorded for six years, the SMMT says. It marked an eighth consecutive month of growth for the auto sectorHawes says the Government now needs to 'urgently reform regulations' to make car manufacturing in Britain more competitive and to secure jobs and livelihoods that depend on the industry.'The sector's commitment to decarbonisation is not in doubt, but its ability to remain viable and attract investment for an EV future is under intense pressure,' he went on.While the annual growth rate was flattered by weaker EV demand last summer before the introduction of the ECG, uptake of other electrified models also accelerated.Plug-in hybrid registrations increased by 33.6 per cent in July, while conventional hybrid sales rose 11.6 per cent.The growth is being driven by a broader range of electrified cars entering the market, particularly from ambitious Chinese brands offering impressive technology and long driving ranges. Some 43k EVs were registered in July, a 44.5% increase on a year earlier. This saw EVs represent 27.5% of all new cars delivered to UK drivers last month Electrified cars - including battery electric vehicles (BEV), plug-in hybrids (PHEV) and conventional hybrids (HEV) - recorded growth last month, while conventional petrol and diesel registrations went into reverseOften viewed as a stepping stone between petrol and diesel models and fully electric cars, modern hybrids are becoming an increasingly attractive option for motorists seeking lower running costs without making the switch to a pure EV.Some now offer electric-only driving ranges of more than 70 miles, making them particularly appealing as fuel prices remain volatile.In contrast, diesel sales declined by almost 18 per cent to less than 6,600 deliveries last month. Oil burners now represent one in 25 new car registrations in Britain.Demand also shrank for petrol cars by 5 per cent. However, 62,800 registrations mean petrol cars still account for two in five models entering the road on a monthly basis. Left: The 10 best-selling new cars last month. Right: The models with the highest volume of orders so far in 2026 Renault's retro-inspired 5 hatchback was the UK's most popular EV in July, recording almost 1,800 registrationsIan Plummer, chief customer officer at Auto Trader, said: 'The new car market looks well on course for its best year since 2019 as strong competition between manufacturers improves affordability and draws consumers back into the market.'Conflict in the Gulf has focused the minds of car buyers on lower-cost motoring options, meaning demand remains especially strong for electrified vehicles.'For the first time, one in every two new car enquiries on Auto Trader in July was for a plug-in vehicle, showing they are now firmly a mainstream choice.'The Ford Puma strengthened its grip on top spot in the UK sales charts with more than 3,500 registrations in July.However, supply concerns remain after production of the crossover in Romania was temporarily halted amid the energy crisis affecting parts of Eastern Europe.Meanwhile, Chinese brand Jaecoo continued its remarkable rise.Its Jaecoo 7 SUV, dubbed the 'Temu Range Rover', was the third best-selling new car in Britain last month with 3,200 registrations, while the smaller Jaecoo 5 ranked seventh with around 2,500 sales.Among pure electric models, Renault's retro-inspired 5 hatchback was the UK's most popular EV in July, recording almost 1,800 registrations. CARS & MOTORING: ON TEST