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Chinese Brands Make Up 10.8 Percent of UK Car Sales January-May as Many Motorists Remain Unfamiliar
Sales of vehicles from Chinese brands reached 99,740 units between January and May, more than one-tenth of the 924,763 total cars sold in the UK. Consumer interest has risen sharply, with two in five motorists now considering a Chinese car for their next purchase.
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Chinese-brand vehicles accounted for more than one-tenth of total UK car sales between January and May, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reported by GB News. The 99,740 units sold by those brands formed part of the 924,763 cars registered in the period.
Two in five UK motorists said they are considering a Chinese car for their next purchase, a share that has nearly doubled since earlier this year.
Brands currently available include Aion, BYD, Changan, Chery, Geely, GWM, Jaecoo, Leapmotor, Omoda, Skywell and Xpeng. BYD, Jaecoo and Omoda are already outselling some manufacturers that have operated in the UK for decades. John Cassidy, managing director of Close Brothers Motor Finance, said Chinese vehicle manufacturers are becoming an increasingly important part of the UK automotive market, particularly as demand for electric vehicles continues to grow.
A quarter of motorists said they would prefer to wait until Chinese manufacturers have a longer track record in the UK before buying, while 36 per cent said they were unfamiliar with the brands. Lepas, owned by Chery, will showcase its L8 SUV at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and release the model in the UK this summer. It plans to follow with the mid-size L6 and city-friendly L4 models.
BYD will begin selling its Denza brand and ultra-rapid Flash Chargers in the UK later this year.
