Chinese car brands surge in the UK in 2025

Chinese and Chinese-owned car brands recorded another year of explosive growth in the UK new car market in 2025, according to registration data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). While the overall market rose 3.5% to just over two million units, brands from China outpaced the wider industry by a huge margin, led by BYD, MG and fast-emerging newcomers Chery, Omoda and Jaecoo.

Analysis of the full-year figures shows every major Chinese marque increased its registrations, with several multiplying volumes many times over. Their performance reflects not only aggressive pricing and expanding model ranges, but also the accelerating shift to electric vehicles (EVs), where Chinese manufacturers retain a significant cost advantage.

BYD becomes the UK’s fastest-growing major brand

BYD, the Chinese EV giant, delivered one of the standout performances of the year.
It registered 51,422 cars in 2025, up from 8,788 in 2024 — a 485% increase. This puts BYD firmly among the UK’s fastest-growing car brands of any origin, boosted by strong demand for its Dolphin, Seal and Atto 3 electric models.

The brand’s competitive pricing and growing retail footprint have made it one of the most accessible entry points for new EV buyers at a time when affordability is a critical concern.

MG strengthens its position as the UK’s leading Chinese-owned brand

MG, owned by Shanghai-based SAIC Motor, continued its long-running success.
The brand registered 85,155 cars, up 4.4% on 2024.

MG’s mix of EVs and budget-friendly petrol models helped maintain high volumes, with the MG4 remaining one of the UK’s best-selling electric cars. Although its growth rate was more modest than newer entrants, MG remains by far the largest Chinese-owned brand in the UK.

Omoda, Chery and Jaecoo make major breakthroughs

Chery and its sibling brand Omoda – both new to the UK market – made remarkable progress during their first full year of trading:

• Chery: 5,517 registrations (up from effectively zero in 2024)
• Omoda: 19,855 registrations, surging from 3,629 in 2024 — a 447% increase

Alongside them, Jaecoo, another brand under the Chery Group umbrella, posted one of the most astonishing growth rates of any marque in the UK market:

• Jaecoo: 28,232 registrations in 2025, up from 209 in 2024 — a 13,408% increase

This dramatic surge reflects strong early demand for Jaecoo’s rugged, premium-leaning SUVs, which appeal to buyers seeking alternatives to traditional 4×4 brands. Together, Omoda, Chery and Jaecoo significantly expanded Chery Group’s UK footprint, with more electric and hybrid models expected in 2026.

Polestar nears 17,000 registrations as premium EV appetite grows

Polestar, although Swedish in branding, remains majority-owned by China’s Geely and continues to benefit from Chinese supply-chain efficiencies.

The brand registered 16,959 cars, up 95% from 8,693 the year before. The strong performance was supported by sustained demand for the Polestar 2 and growing anticipation for the new Polestar 3 and 4 models.

Smaller entrants also post rapid growth

Niche EV brand Skywell expanded its UK footprint with 31 registrations, compared with six in 2024 — a 417% rise, albeit from a very low base.

Changan, another major Chinese automotive group, registered 357 cars despite having no UK presence the previous year, signalling early but growing interest in yet another entrant to the market.

Chinese brands now critical to EV momentum in the UK

Combined, the major Chinese and Chinese-owned brands listed in the data registered more than 170,000 vehicles in 2025 – roughly one in twelve new cars sold in the UK. Their collective growth far exceeded that of the market as a whole and played an important role in lifting EV availability and affordability.

With the UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate requiring 33% EV market share in 2026, Chinese manufacturers – many of which specialise in electric models – are expected to play an even more central role in meeting demand.

A more competitive 2026 expected

With at least half a dozen additional Chinese brands planning UK launches or expansions next year – including Leapmotor (via Stellantis) and further models from Chery’s Jaecoo sub-brand – the competitive pressure on established European, Korean and Japanese manufacturers is likely to intensify.

Whether UK consumers continue to embrace Chinese brands at the same pace will depend on pricing, brand trust, charging infrastructure and the broader EV policy environment, but based on 2025 performance, Chinese manufacturers are now firmly embedded in the UK’s automotive landscape.

Manufacturer new car sales figures UK new car registration figures by month and year-to-date
Marque	December 2025	% Market share	% Change	YTD 2025	% Market share	% Change
Abarth	4	0.00	-77.78	291	0.01	-71.67
Alfa Romeo	295	0.20	120.15	3,000	0.15	80.07
Alpine	373	0.26	1,454.17	1,742	0.09	369.54
Audi	8,259	5.65	15.11	111,115	5.50	-9.24
Bentley	54	0.04	-20.59	993	0.05	8.05
Bmw	8,688	5.94	2.40	122,723	6.07	-2.03
Byd	7,682	5.25	466.94	51,422	2.54	485.14
Changan	237	0.16	0.00	357	0.02	0.00
Chery	1,587	1.09	0.00	5,517	0.27	0.00
Chevrolet	1	0.00	0.00	85	0.00	8,400.00
Citroen	1,648	1.13	-14.83	20,732	1.03	-31.74
Cupra	3,033	2.07	-0.69	41,214	2.04	35.58
Dacia	1,608	1.10	-41.82	30,005	1.49	-4.62
Ds	12	0.01	-55.56	1,015	0.05	-11.89
Fiat	149	0.10	-82.97	8,764	0.43	-38.51
Fisker	0	0.00	0.00	0	0.00	-100.00
Ford	9,694	6.63	25.42	118,998	5.89	8.22
Geely	125	0.09	0.00	478	0.02	0.00
Genesis	68	0.05	-38.74	1,225	0.06	1.24
Gwm	73	0.05	305.56	542	0.03	-53.36
Honda	687	0.47	-31.78	23,017	1.14	-24.87
Hyundai	5,554	3.80	8.94	93,124	4.61	1.43
Ineos	10	0.01	-41.18	263	0.01	-24.86
Jaecoo	3,814	2.61	1,724.88	28,232	1.40	13,408.13
Jaguar	0	0.00	-100.00	1,725	0.09	-89.62
Jeep	515	0.35	-24.26	10,616	0.53	17.42
Kgm	69	0.05	2.99	1,574	0.08	-2.66
Kia	4,394	3.00	10.26	113,436	5.61	1.05
Land Rover	3,906	2.67	7.63	60,720	3.01	-0.93
Leapmotor	1,289	0.88	0.00	4,273	0.21	0.00
Lexus	1,097	0.75	-15.68	16,454	0.81	-1.18
Maserati	52	0.04	85.71	372	0.02	-20.68
Maxus	1	0.00	-96.43	47	0.00	51.61
Mazda	1,149	0.79	-50.71	31,443	1.56	10.60
Mercedes	4,961	3.39	-18.96	89,267	4.42	-13.13
Mg	9,846	6.73	46.85	85,155	4.21	4.44
Mini	4,333	2.96	-27.14	47,328	2.34	0.75
Nissan	5,878	4.02	-10.95	90,102	4.46	-10.30
Omoda	1,804	1.23	125.50	19,855	0.98	447.12
Peugeot	3,060	2.09	-16.32	83,044	4.11	20.52
Polestar	1,733	1.18	92.98	16,959	0.84	95.09
Porsche	1,825	1.25	-34.45	18,805	0.93	-5.98
Renault	5,148	3.52	-0.31	65,537	3.24	13.06
Seat	1,400	0.96	-36.04	23,015	1.14	-37.43
Skoda	4,823	3.30	-30.68	83,304	4.12	5.98
Skywell	4	0.00	33.33	31	0.00	416.67
Smart	190	0.13	233.33	1,770	0.09	-10.65
Subaru	150	0.10	-12.28	2,144	0.11	-11.37
Suzuki	986	0.67	75.13	18,226	0.90	-20.96
Tesla	6,286	4.30	-27.29	45,513	2.25	-9.58
Toyota	5,253	3.59	-27.76	90,126	4.46	-11.16
Vauxhall	4,129	2.82	-27.27	81,921	4.05	3.84
Volkswagen	11,596	7.93	-3.38	178,607	8.84	7.40
Volvo	6,297	4.31	11.97	68,776	3.40	3.57
Xpeng	150	0.10	0.00	900	0.04	0.00
Other British	221	0.15	-35.94	3,077	0.15	-10.86
Other Imports	49	0.03	-28.99	1,544	0.08	-26.48
Total Market	146,249	100	3.88	2,020,520	100	3.47
Source: SMMT