Chinese car companies are gearing up to expand in the UK’s electric vehicle (EV) market this year. Brands like Nio, Aion and Zeekr are planning to launch new EVs, aiming to attract British buyers.
Because the UK government hasn’t placed tougher import taxes (tariffs) on Chinese-built cars, these brands can enter the market with competitive pricing. That’s helping them grow quickly and giving British manufacturers a tougher challenge.
The UK is now Europe’s second-largest electric car market, and that makes it an attractive place for overseas carmakers. Many Chinese companies are pushing into Europe because competition in China is intense and domestic growth is harder to achieve.
One reason Chinese brands are finding success here is that British car buyers are more open to trying new names - especially when EVs offer good value for money. At the same time, the UK no longer has a major mass-market car maker of its own, which makes space for foreign brands.
Established Chinese companies like BYD and Chery have already started taking sales from traditional rivals such as Toyota, Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz. Other newcomers, like Zeekr (part of the Geely group), are preparing their own UK launches later this year or in early 2027.
Industry figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that sales of Chinese-branded cars in the UK doubled in 2025, rising from about 5 % of the new car market to around 10 %. In December alone, Chinese brands made up roughly 18 % of all new car sales - with BYD accounting for about 5 % on its own.
These growing sales are helping boost the overall UK car market, which still hasn’t returned to pre-COVID levels.
Chinese brands like Nio are planning multiple model launches, including smaller electric cars under sub-brands like Firefly. Others, like state-owned GAC with its Aion range, are also expected to enter the UK market.
Chery already sells models under names such as Omoda and Jaecoo and is considering a third brand called Lepas. Geely has said it hopes to sell up to 100,000 vehicles per year in the UK, and it’s even offering long warranties on batteries to attract buyers.
Analysts at Auto Trader have suggested that Chinese and some US brands could capture as much as 20 % of the UK car market by 2028 - not just in EVs, but in petrol, hybrid and electric models alike.
One industry expert summed it up by saying these foreign makers aren’t just taking sales from one segment, but from multiple established brands, reshaping the UK car market as they grow.
