Chinese manufacturers accounted for nearly a quarter of all new cars sold in Britain last month, as the government faced pressure to impose tariffs on the influx of imports. Of the more than 350,500 new cars registered in the UK in September, over 81,000 were Chinese.
Sales of Chinese brands, led by BYD and Jaecoo, have soared by as much as 3,300% in the past year. British buyers have flocked to these models, often electric, which are typically much cheaper than those from Western car brands.
Jaecoo 7 tops UK sales
Britain's best-selling car last month was the Jaecoo 7, dubbed the “Temu Range Rover”. BYD, which stands for Build Your Dreams, sold more cars in the UK last month than industry giant Ford, and has outsold Japan's Nissan in the year to date.
Another big seller is MG, the famous British make that has been Chinese-owned since 2005. The figures from trade body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) confirm the growing dominance of Chinese car manufacturers, despite their relative newness to the UK market.
Sales surge across Chinese brands
Sales of Jaecoo were up 132% year-on-year in September, with Leapmotor up more than 700%, and Chery by 660%. Another Chinese maker, Changan, sold 659 vehicles last month, but that was up by 3,368% on the mere 19 it shifted in September 2025.
Their arrival has shaken up the sector, with rivals battling to compete with imports that critics say benefit from subsidies from the Chinese state.
Tariff pressure and EU alignment
The UK currently has just a 10% import tariff on imported Chinese electric cars. In contrast, the EU has imposed a 45% levy since 2024, and the US a 100% tax. However, the government is facing calls to hike the levy to protect the UK car industry and to maintain access to the EU market.
The UK is hoping to join the EU's “Made in Europe” scheme, which is being drawn up in Brussels. Failure to do so could make higher taxes on UK-made cars. However, the government is also aware doing so could increase the cost of Chinese-made cars to UK buyers, while Beijing could retaliate with tit-for-tat tariffs on British cars, including Jaguar Land Rover.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds recently dismissed the idea of a tariff hike, however there are now reports that he has tasked officials with drawing up a list of possible options.
Responding to the latest SMMT figures, BYD's deputy country manager for the UK, Steve Beattie, said: “These figures are an incredible result for BYD, so I'd like to say a big thank you to all of our customers who buy our cars and enjoy them on a daily basis. While it's a huge result for us, we believe that there is still more to come.”
Farrell Hsu, managing director at Chery UK, said: “Achieving 9,788 registrations in September reflects how rapidly Chery has established itself in the UK since our launch last year. Reaching our highest market share to date proves that UK customers appreciate the attainable pricing, state-of-the-art hybrid technology and rich specifications our award-winning vehicles offer.”
Hsu added: “As we prepare to introduce four new and refreshed models over the coming year, including our first electric vehicle, this record month provides a fantastic springboard for our next phase of growth.”
