Chinese-Made Car Sales Surge in UK, Driven by Price and Technology

MAIDSTONE, England — Izzy Woodrow is a believer.

Four weeks ago, he joined the small but growing number of Brits who have bought a Chinese-made vehicle.

"I've got a car that I enjoy driving [and is] super comfy. It's very quiet and the fit and finish is great and the technology experience is enjoyable " Woodrow said during an interview at Lipscomb Cars in Maidstone, England. The Geely dealership southeast of London opened within the past year.

It's part of a trend, as sales of Chinese-made autos have been surging in the United Kingdom.

In 2015, Brits bought just 384 Chinese vehicles imported into the country, according to Mobility Global, an automotive consulting firm. By 2020, that number climbed to 25,302, and last year it topped 285,000.

Despite selling just two Geely models, Lipscomb has been attracting buyers like Chris and Tracy Smith.

"It's value for money, and what you're getting in equipment as opposed to some of the top brands that are selling for probably more money, but with less accessories on it," said Chris Smith.

Analyst Will Roberts of Benchmark, an automotive consulting firm, said Chinese-made vehicles from companies like BYD are no longer a novelty in the U.K.

"I remember noticing the first BYD crossing London Bridge a couple of years ago, and that was a big moment in a way. Ever since then, it's just become second nature," Roberts said.

China's auto exports have boomed in recent years as the country's appetite for new models has cooled. In the first half of 2026, retail auto sales fell 26% while auto exports were up 72% compared with last year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

While all of Europe has seen an influx of Chinese-built cars and SUVs, the U.K. stands out because it does not charge an additional tariff on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, which is the case in the European Union.

That has provided an opening for Chinese automakers.

"It becomes an excellent size market that's progressing well towards electrification and is in demand for some cheaper vehicles with that void to fill," Roberts said.

Many Chinese models are priced several thousand pounds below comparable models from legacy automakers. For example, a new Volkswagen Tiguan plug-in hybrid built in Germany sells in the United Kingdom for just over £43,000 ($58,000). By comparison, the BYD Seal U built in China costs almost £10,000 less.

Executives for legacy automakers, including the United States' so-called Big 3, have long complained that subsidies the Chinese government provides automakers allows those companies to sell cars for far less than other automakers in Asia, the U.S. and Europe. Despite those complaints, China auto exports keep growing.

"The Chinese are coming into Europe with really attractive cars at really attractive prices with technology that sort of blows away what they can buy from a European manufacturer, " former General Motors board member Jon McNeill told CNBC.

At Lipscomb Cars, dealer John Panda-Noah said he believes the competitive pricing might get buyers in the door, but the fit, finish and technology in a new Geely are what wins them over.

"When they see the car, they're blown away by how good they look," he said.