43% of UK Motorists Would Consider Chinese-Made Car, While 26% Would Not

Forty-three per cent of UK motorists said they would consider buying a Chinese-made vehicle as their next car, according to new research reported by GB News. Twenty-six per cent said they would not consider such a purchase. Earlier this year, 22 per cent of UK drivers said they felt comfortable buying a Chinese-made car.

Chinese brands have rapidly expanded their presence in the UK in recent years, particularly in the electric vehicle market. Thirty-two per cent of UK drivers remain concerned about unfamiliarity with Chinese brands. Thirty per cent cited reliability concerns, 28 per cent worried about spare parts availability, and 28 per cent raised concerns about build quality.

A quarter of UK motorists said they would prefer to wait until Chinese manufacturers built a longer track record in the UK before making a purchase decision. John Cassidy, managing director of Close Brothers Motor Finance, stated that Chinese vehicle manufacturers are becoming an increasingly important part of the UK automotive market, particularly as demand for electric vehicles continues to grow.

He said the findings showed that confidence in Chinese brands was continuing to improve, despite lingering concerns. "Greater acceptance of these brands is likely to encourage more new Chinese vehicles onto UK roads, which over time will help boost supply in the used car market and give motorists even more choice," Cassidy said.

He added that drivers could take advantage of a wider range of finance options to make lower-cost electric vehicles even cheaper.

The research suggested that while some scepticism remains, Chinese brands are becoming a more credible option for motorists, particularly as the transition to electric vehicles grows, in line with the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate.