Chinese carmakers are expanding into the UK – and many Britons are adopting them

Maidstone, England – Izzy Woodrow is a believer.

Four weeks ago, he joined a small but growing number of Britons who have bought a Chinese-made car.

“I have a car that I enjoy driving [and is] Very comfortable. “It’s very quiet, the fit and finish are great and the technology is fun to experience,” Woodrow said during an interview at Lipscomb Cars in Maidstone, England. The Geely dealership was opened in south-east London last year.

It’s part of a trend, as sales of Chinese-made cars in the UK have soared.

In 2015, Britons bought just 384 Chinese cars imported into the country, according to Mobility Global, an automotive consultancy. By 2020, this number had risen to 25,302, and last year it exceeded 285,000.

Although only two Geely models are sold, Lipscomb is attracting buyers like Chris and Tracy Smith.

“It’s value for money, what you get for the equipment as opposed to some of the better brands that sell them for more money, but with less accessories on them,” Chris Smith said.

Analyst Will Roberts of Benchmark, an automotive consultancy, said Chinese-made cars from companies such as BYD were no longer new to the UK.

“I remember watching the first BYD car cross London Bridge a couple of years ago, and that was a big moment in a way,” Roberts said. “Since then, it’s just been second nature.”

China’s car exports have boomed in recent years as the country’s appetite for new models has declined. In the first half of 2026, retail car sales fell 26% while car exports rose 72% compared to last year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

While the whole of Europe has seen an influx of Chinese cars and SUVs, the UK stands out because it does not impose additional tariffs on hybrid electric cars, as is the case in the EU.

This has provided an opportunity for Chinese automakers.

“It’s becoming a premium-sized market that’s moving well into electrification and there’s demand for some cheaper cars to fill that void,” Roberts said.

Many Chinese models are priced several thousand pounds less than similar models from legacy carmakers. For example, the new German-made Volkswagen Tiguan hybrid sells for a little more in the UK British pounds43,000 ($58,000). In comparison, a BYD Seal U manufactured in China costs approx British pounds10,000 less.

Executives of legacy automakers, including the so-called Big Three in the United States, have long complained that Chinese government subsidies for automakers allow those companies to sell cars at much lower prices than other automakers in Asia, the United States and Europe. Despite these complaints, China’s auto exports continued to grow.

He added: “The Chinese come to Europe with very attractive cars at very attractive prices, with technology superior to what they can buy from a European manufacturer.” GM Board member John McNeil told CNBC.

At Lipscomb Cars, dealer John Banda Noah said he thinks competitive pricing might attract buyers, but it’s the fit, finish and technology in the new Geely that will attract them.

“When they see the car, they are amazed at how good it looks,” he said.