Chinese car manufacturers are rapidly gaining ground in the UK, with competitive pricing, strong performance and top-spec designs – offering UK drivers more choice and an accelerated driving experience.
Chris Adams, Group Operations Director at Brindley Group, has shared expert insight on what this surge means for motorists. From XPENG’s premium G6 SUV to Omoda’s versatile e5, these newcomers are setting a new benchmark for value, innovation, and performance on UK roads.
He said, “Chinese car manufacturers are quickly becoming major players in the UK, and the trend is only accelerating. Chinese manufacturers aren’t just known for their competitive pricing, strong build quality, and cutting-edge technology; brands like XPENG are at the forefront of this new wave.
“XPENG’s G6 is the first of the brand’s models to launch in the UK. A mid-size electric SUV, the G6 blends premium design with impressive range and intelligent driver-assistance features, positioning it as a serious rival to established European names, with an attractive price tag.
“Following closely behind will be the P7, a sleek electric saloon that further showcases XPENG’s ambition to compete at every level of the EV market.
“But XPENG isn’t alone. Other newcomers are gearing up to make an impact on UK roads. Jaecoo, for example, is set to launch the Jaecoo 5, a modern SUV aimed at style-conscious drivers, while sister brand Omoda is rolling out the all-new Omoda e5.
“The e5 is a practical EV with broad appeal for UK drivers, from commuters to school droppers. Add to this MG’s resurgence, offering value-driven electric models, and it’s clear that Chinese manufacturers are becoming more than just an alternative; they’re now the mainstream.”
The surge of these brands shows how far Chinese automotive engineering has come. Once dismissed as budget options, they are now delivering vehicles that compete on technology, safety, and design, often at a more accessible price point.
For UK drivers, this means more choice than ever before. Whether it’s XPENG’s intelligent EVs, Jaecoo’s bold SUVs, or Omoda’s versatile electrics, the landscape is shifting fast—and Chinese carmakers are leading the charge.
Kia has been in Britain for over 30 years but the Korean giant has just launched its PV5 first van and is planning to roll-out a number of commercial vehicles next year, inc. a factory approved chassis cab and conversion which will impact on the legend brands which have not had to compete with the cheaper rivals from the Far East.
This week, car makers revealed their regisstrations of EVs soared to a record in September and the biggest to benefit was China’s BYD brand which took a remarkable 3.6% of registrations.
BYD says the UK has become its biggest market outside China after its sales there surged by 880% in September compared to a year earlier. The company says it sold 11,271 cars in the UK last month, with the plug-in hybrid version of its Seal U sports utility vehicle (SUV) accounting for the majority of those sales.
The UK is particularly attractive to firms like BYD as the country has not imposed tariffs on Chinese EVs, unlike the European Union and US.
UK EV sales hit a record high last month, with sales of pure battery electric vehicles rising to almost 73,000, according to the SMMT.
Sales of plug-in hybrid cars grew even faster, it said.
The Kia Sportage, Ford Puma and Nissan Qashqai were the best-selling cars in September. Chinese models – the Jaecoo 7 and BYD Seal U – were also in the top 10.
Despite the surge in overall EV sales in the UK, petrol and diesel vehicles still made up more than half of new car sales last month, according to the SMMT.
