Chinese brands gain ground in Autotrader’s July new car rankings

Chinese automotive brands are continuing to strengthen their presence in the UK new car market, with five models featuring in Autotrader’s top 10 most-enquired new cars in July ahead of the key September plate change.

However, while challenger brands are attracting increasing attention from buyers, the latest data suggests established manufacturers continue to dominate overall demand, particularly in the electric vehicle (EV) segment.

According to Autotrader, the MG S9 topped its all-fuel new car rankings in July to date, accounting for 5.8% of enquiries sent through the platform. It was followed by the MG HS (3.5%) and the Jaecoo 7 (3.0%).

Five Chinese-brand models appeared in the top 10 overall, with the Jaecoo 5 ranking ninth and Chery’s Tiggo 8 completing the list in 10th place.

At brand level, MG led the rankings with a 13.3% share of enquiries, ahead of BMW (10.2%) and Audi (7.9%), while Jaecoo and Chery also secured places in the top 10.

Autotrader said the figures demonstrate growing consumer interest in selected Chinese models, although they do not yet signal a broader market shift on the same scale.

The data comes as retailers prepare for one of the busiest periods of the year, with visits to Autotrader’s new car platform rising 11% year-on-year during the last quarter. Advertised new car stock is also 16% higher than at the same point last year, indicating both retailer confidence and growing buyer activity ahead of the September registration plate change.

In the electric vehicle market, established manufacturers continue to perform strongly despite increased competition.

MG was the most-enquired electric brand in July to date, accounting for 9.7% of enquiries, but European, Korean and US manufacturers occupied seven of the top 10 brand positions, including Renault, Kia, BMW, Hyundai, Audi, Ford and Tesla.

The Renault 5 E-Tech Electric topped the electric model rankings with a 5.5% share of enquiries. Autotrader said the model’s success, supported by the Electric Car Grant introduced just over a year ago, highlights the continued importance of affordability in driving EV demand.

The Jaecoo 5 ranked second among electric models with a 4.2% share, followed by the BMW iX3 (3.9%), Ford Explorer and Hyundai INSTER.

Meanwhile, new car discounts have begun to ease as retailers prepare for September. Average discounts across all fuel types fell to 10.3% in July, down from earlier in the summer but still above the 9.4% recorded in July 2025. Discounts on electric models also softened slightly, falling from 11.6% last month to 11.3% in July to date.

Commenting on the findings, Bex Kennett, Head of New Car Performance at Autotrader, said: “The latest data points to a new car market that is becoming increasingly competitive as we approach the September plate change.

“Chinese-brand models are gaining traction, with five appearing in our July top 10, but it’s important to keep that in context. Established brands continue to account for a significant share of demand, particularly in electric, where the rankings remain highly competitive.

“For retailers, the key point is that buyer attention is becoming more fragmented. Compelling products, competitive pricing and the right stock mix will be especially important in the run-up to September. Encouragingly, visits to our new car platform were up year-on-year last quarter and advertised stock is also ahead of last year, pointing to a healthy pipeline of activity building ahead of the plate change. With discounts also softening in July, the market remains competitive, but less heavily supported than earlier in the summer.”