Chinese Car Brands Secure 10% of the UK Vehicle Market as Drivers Invest in BYD, Jaecoo, Omoda and More

It’s no longer a case of a few curious early adopters buying into Chinese car brands — these manufacturers have now carved out a genuine, significant slice of the UK new car market, and the numbers are hard to argue with.

New data shows that Chinese brands now account for more than 10% of all new UK vehicle registrations, a milestone that would have seemed almost impossible just three or four years ago. The brands leading the charge are BYD, Jaecoo, and Omoda, with others including Chery, Leapmotor, Xpeng, Geely, and GWM also racking up sales.

BYD’s Remarkable Growth

BYD’s rise in the UK has been nothing short of extraordinary. In Q1 2025, BYD represented just 1.6% of new vehicle registrations. By Q1 2026, that figure had grown to 3.47% — more than doubling in the space of a year, with 21,337 vehicles registered in the first quarter alone. Over the full year of 2025, BYD registered 51,422 cars in the UK, a massive leap from just 8,788 the year before, and enough to outsell Tesla’s 45,513 registrations.

The brand has benefited from strong awareness campaigns, including its sponsorship of the 2024 European Championships, and an expanding UK dealer network.

Jaecoo and Omoda Make Their Mark

Jaecoo, part of the Chery Group, has become a genuine phenomenon since launching in the UK in early 2025. The Jaecoo 7 was identified by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) as the model with the most UK registrations in March 2026, with 10,064 units sold in that month alone. Since launching, 41,952 Jaecoo 7s have been sold in the UK.

Omoda has been similarly impressive. Its share of new vehicle registrations jumped from 0.55% in Q1 2025 to 1.47% in Q1 2026, and in 2025 it registered 19,855 cars — enough to overtake Suzuki. The Omoda E5 was actually the UK’s best-selling salary sacrifice electric car in all of 2025, finishing ahead of the Tesla Model Y.

Gary Lan, CEO of Omoda and Jaecoo UK, commented that in less than two years the brands had moved from market entry to meaningful scale in one of the most sophisticated automotive markets in the world.

Squeezing Established Brands

What makes the Chinese growth particularly notable is that it’s not just adding to overall market volume — it’s actively taking sales away from traditional manufacturers. According to data from The Car Expert, the combined year-to-date registrations of BYD and Chery Group are now ahead of Volkswagen, historically the UK’s dominant single brand.

In the first four months of 2026, the UK new car market grew by 9% — but over 53,000 of those additional units came from just four Chinese brands: BYD, Jaecoo, Omoda, and Chery.

Analysts have suggested that Chinese brands could reach 15% of the UK market by the end of 2026, with some predictions pointing toward 20% the year after.

Why Are Drivers Choosing Them?

The appeal is fairly straightforward: lower prices, high equipment levels, and technology that genuinely rivals European and Japanese alternatives. Many Chinese models include digital screens, advanced driver assistance features, and parking technology as standard on entry-level trims. Several carry five-star Euro NCAP safety ratings.

UK buyers have also become significantly more aware of these brands. A 2025 YouGov poll found that seven in ten Britons now recognise at least one emerging car brand, with two in five associating China with having the fastest-growing car manufacturers in the world.

For drivers in the taxi and private hire sector keeping an eye on costs, it’s well worth watching how these brands develop — with several models now available through salary sacrifice schemes and competitive lease deals, the conversation around fleet vehicles is beginning to shift.

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