Primary Taiwanese news agency Central News Agency (CNA) recently reported that Chinese car brands made a significant impact on the UK market last year, with new car sales exceeding 200,000 units, accounting for one-tenth of the UK 2025 new car sales market.
Chinese automakers, SAIC’s MG, BYD, and Chery are leading the pack, with significant growth in UK. Thanks to strong policy support from the Chinese government in recent years, tight government control over the lithium-ion battery supply chain, and low labor costs in China relative to the West, China holds an “absolute leading position” in the global electric vehicle industry, CNA reported. The rapid sales growth of Chinese cars has worried EU countries, especially Germany and France, with the fear that a contraction in their own automotive industries could lead to the loss of millions of automotive jobs. Data from the UK Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows that, in the first 11 months of 2025, Chinese car brands sold 187,800 vehicles in the UK, double the sales in the same period of 2024.
Unlike the EU, the UK and Norway do not impose tariffs on Chinese imports. This means Chinese electric vehicles can be sold smoothly in these two countries. Chinese brands also accounted for one-tenth of new car sales in Spain and Norway last year.
Source: CNA, January 1, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202601010209.aspx