Interest in Chinese EVs from UK car buyers soars
UK car buyers' interest in cars built by Chinese manufacturers has soared, new figures show.
Auto Trader, the UK's largest online automotive marketplace, said more than 1.4 million adverts viewed in the first four months of this year were for Chinese brands.
That represented a market share of 5.3%, compared with 1.3% during the same period in 2024.
A host of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers such as Jaecoo, Leapmotor, Skywell, Omoda and Xpeng have joined BYD and GWM in entering the UK market.
Auto Trader said the stock of Chinese EVs listed for sale on its website between January and April was more than 10 times higher than a year ago, exceeding 3,300 units.
BYD accounts for around half of advert views and stock on Auto Trader.
It is becoming a more familiar brand with car buyers, aided by its sponsorship of the Euro 2024 football tournament.
The BYD Dolphin Surf will be among the UK's cheapest electric cars when it becomes available later this year.
Auto Trader said Chinese manufacturers are often able to undercut Western rivals as they benefit from 'affordable battery technology'.
It cited research showing drivers have less brand loyalty when it comes to EVs than for petrol or diesel cars.
Ian Plummer, commercial director at Auto Trader, told the PA news agency: 'Our research shows a breakthrough for Chinese manufacturers in the UK market over the last 12 months.
'Several brands are now motoring from a standing start and bigger names like BYD have embedded themselves in the public consciousness.
'Chinese electric vehicles are cutting-edge products, backed by affordable battery technology.
'Trade turbulence with the US and EU tariffs is also making the UK relatively more attractive as a market.
'There will be much more to come from Chinese carmakers.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Western Telegraph
26 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
PM takes blame for welfare U-turn as he gives full backing to Chancellor
Speaking to the BBC in his first interview since a threatened backbench revolt forced him to strip out a major part of his welfare reform plan, he acknowledged the past few days had been 'tough'. He said: 'Labour MPs are absolutely vested in this. It matters to them to get things like this right, and we didn't get that process right. We didn't engage in the way that we should have done.' Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves (right) crying as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks during Prime Minister's Questions (UK Parliament/PA) But he insisted his Government would 'come through it stronger' as he vowed to 'reflect' on what needed to be done 'to ensure we don't get into a situation like that again'. Sir Keir also gave his full support to Chancellor Rachel Reeves after she was seen crying during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday. Ms Reeves's visibly tearful appearance in the Commons came amid speculation that her job was at risk after the welfare U-turn put an almost £5 billion hole in her spending plans. But the Prime Minister insisted her appearance had 'nothing to do with politics, nothing to do with what's happened this week' and was 'a personal matter'. Asked if she would remain in her post, he said: 'She will be Chancellor for a very long time to come, because this project that we've been working on to change the Labour Party, to win the election, change the country, that is a project which the Chancellor and I've been working on together.' Wes Streeting said the Chancellor would bounce back (PA) On Thursday morning, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said Ms Reeves would 'bounce back' as he praised her 'leadership' on the economy. He also dismissed a suggestion that Sir Keir himself could be at risk, telling Sky News: 'Keir Starmer has been consistently underestimated. 'I wonder when people will learn. They said he couldn't win the Labour leadership, but he did. They said he couldn't change the Labour Party, but he did. They said he couldn't take the Labour Party from its worst defeat since the 1930s to election victory last year, and he did. 'And now the cynics say he can't change the country, but he will.' But Conservative shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride said the scenes in the Commons over the past week had left bond markets 'twitchy' about the Government and 'their ability to actually grip things like spending going forward'. Appearing on BBC Breakfast, Sir Mel appeared to distance himself from Robert Jenrick, who had earlier posted a video on social media describing Ms Reeves's career as 'dead'. But he added that Mr Jenrick was making a 'valid' point that the Government had 'lost control of the economy', laying the blame with the Chancellor and Sir Keir and warning of tax rises to come.
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Long before Diddy's sex-crimes trial, he almost became an NFL owner
It wasn't long ago that Combs attempted to join one of the most exclusive clubs in American society: NFL ownership. Here's a look back at Diddy's dalliance with "The Shield." Sean 'Diddy' Combs wanted to buy Carolina Panthers Combs first voiced his desire to buy the Carolina Panthers via social media in December 2017. The Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry responded that he wanted to be a part of the ownership group. Combs' ownership push came amid the Colin Kaepernick protests that he inspired across the league. In May 2018, however, owners unanimously approved a new national anthem policy that requires players to stand if they are on the field during the performance and extinguished Combs' desire to own a team, apparently. "Man, I really wanted to go in there and be a part of the NFL and try to be a positive change," Combs said, via Billboard. "This last move, though, I don't even want to own an NFL team no more." The team eventually went to David Tepper. During an appearance with "The Breakfast Club" following his failed attempt to buy the team, Combs said: "It was never about me buying the Panthers. It was always about 'we.' It was always about 'we' need a team," he said. "I jumped out there to make sure that they understood that they have to consider some Black ownership right now with 80%, 70% of the league being African American. It's just time." Robert Kraft wanted Sean 'Diddy' Combs to own NFL team During a run-in with gossip website TMZ, Patriots owner Robert Kraft voiced his support for Combs when asked about the prospect of the 55-year-old buying into the league. "I hope so," he told TMZ Sports. "I'm a big fan of his." Combs later told TMZ that "it's time" for him to own a team.
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Trump reaches trade deal with Vietnam as big tariff deadline looms
"In return, Vietnam will do something that they have never done before, give the United States of America TOTAL ACCESS to their Markets for Trade," Trump said in a July 2 post on Truth Social announcing the deal. "In other words, they will 'OPEN THEIR MARKET TO THE UNITED STATES,' meaning that, we will be able to sell our product into Vietnam at ZERO Tariff," the president added. More: Trump's tariffs are 'not going away' amid legal battles, White House says Trump announced the deal after speaking with To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Vietnamese state media said the U.S. and Vietnam reached an agreement on a joint statement for a "reciprocal, fair and balanced" trade deal. During Trump's phone call with Lam, the Vietnamese leader asked the U.S. to recognize Vietnam as a market economy and remove restrictions on the exports of hi-tech products to Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency reported. More: Trump says U.S. will end trade talks with Canada, could move deadline for other tariffs Companies are currently paying a 10% universal U.S. tariff that Trump imposed on imports from Vietnam and some 180 other nations. However, significantly larger reciprocal tariffs that Trump initially imposed in early April - but soon after paused for 90 days amid market turbulence - are set to go back into effect July 9. Trump could choose to extend the pause, but he's said he's not interested in that. "No, I'm not," Trump told reporters July 1 when asked whether he plans to lengthen the pause. "I'm not thinking about the pause. I'll be writing letters to a lot of countries. And I think you're just starting to understand the process." When the Trump administration delayed the sweeping reciprocal tariffs to allow negotiations with other nations to continue, the White House economic team predicted deals would come at breakneck speed. "We're going to run 90 deals in 90 days. It's possible," White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said at the time. But the administration has struggled to make progress on that pledge. Trump and United Kingdom Prime Minister Keri Starmer in May reached the first trade deal since Trump imposed the new tariffs - but no others have followed. More: Trump says trade deal with China is 'done;' aides tout 'framework' deal In June, Trump announced the framework of a trade deal with China in which the U.S. would collect 55% tariffs on Chinese imports and China would collect 10% on U.S. imports. A month earlier, Trump and China agreed to slash triple-digit tariffs imposed on the other as the two parties continued talks. The Trump administration had previously pointed to Japan as another opportunity to secure a trade deal. But Trump on Tuesday said a U.S.-Japan deal is unlikely. "I doubt it with Japan - they're very tough. You have to understand, they're spoiled," Trump told reporters. Contributing: Reuters Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
