CHINESE car brands have been taking over the UK market as they offer an amazing value for money.
BYD, Omoda and Jaecoo have already landed on our shores with many more to follow.
BYD has even eclipsed Tesla and BMW for sales globally, while its EV sales in the UK hit a record high, reaching nearly 73,000.
Thanks to the UK’s relaxed policy on tariffs for Chinese EVs, the Chinese brands might be here to stay.
Here are the 15 Chinese brands plotting to dominate the UK market.
Ora
Ora launched in the UK with a Golf-sized hatchback[/caption]
Ora stands for “open, reliable and alternative” and it’s a premium electric car brand owned by Chinese giant Great Wall Motors.
The Ora began selling the 03, formerly known as the Funky Cat, in the UK.
It’s a Golf-sized hatch, with Mini headlights, posh Mercedes interior and Tesla graphics.
ORA insists it’s an alternative to Volkswagen’s ID 3 but is better-equipped and £4k cheaper.
The brand was also planning to launch a Porsche Panamera copycat in 2024.
XPeng
Xpeng G6 battery electric sedan on display at the AutoSalon[/caption]
Chinese firm Xpeng has launched its G6 car on the UK shores this year.
The tech-focused EV was designed by the world-renowned JuanMa Lopez who was responsible for leading on the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder.
The all-electric SUV has been dubbed a “direct alternative to Elon Musk‘s world-beating family crossover” by AutoCar.
G6 is just under five metres long and two metres wide, fires from 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds, and features a glass roof.
Amongst the various perks is a function to automatically slow down when passing a speed limit sign.
Chery
Chery has sold over 1million cars globally[/caption]
Chery, the largest exporter of cars from China for the past 22 years, has entered the UK market.
The Chinese manufacturing giant exported 1.14 million vehicles globally in 2024 alone.
And it is now introducing its Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid to the UK buyers.
Tiggo 8 is the first 7-seater from Chery to be sold in Britain.
The hybrid vehicle combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor to produce 201bhp and 269lb ft of torque.
According to Chery, it can travel up to 765 miles on combined power sources, with 56 miles of EV range provided by an 18.4kWh battery.
The sophisticated interior is enhanced by chrome grills and a rear that has a slight resemblance of the Kia Sportage.
Haval
Haval entered the UK market in February of this year[/caption]
Haval, also owned by Great Wall Motors, has first released its hybrid SUV in February.
Haval Jolion Pro, a midsize crossover, is priced from £23,995 and up to £30,000.
It was told to rival the likes of the Dacia Duster Hybrid 140 and MG ZS Hybrid.
However, the initial reviews of the vehicle have been less than positive.
Leapmotor
Leapmotor has already made a name for itself in the UK[/caption]
Leapmotor is already making waves across the UK, having entered Europe in 2024 through a joint venture with Stellantis – the giant that owns Peugeot, Vauxhall and Fiat.
Among its current models are the C10 mid-size SUV and the T03 city car, which is among the least expensive electric vehicles available.
However, they intend to increase their lineup to six models by 2027, which will include the B10 and the soon-to-be B05 hatchback.
The first customer deliveries of B10 are expected to arrive in December 2025.
Denza
Denza is another brand that aims to rival BMW and Porsche[/caption]
Denza, the sister brand of BYD, is aiming to rival the likes of Mercedes, BMW and Porsche.
The premium carmaker has plans to launch three models by the end of 2026.
The range will include the Z9GT, a near-1,000bhp estate car taking aim at the Porsche Panamera.
Second on the list is the D9, a plush seven-seat MPV to challenge Lexus’s LM.
Not forgetting about the B5, a heavyweight off-roader that’s being billed as an alternative to the Land Rover Defender and Toyota Land Cruiser.
Yangwang
Yangwang is yet to launch in the UK[/caption]
Yangwang, dubbed the Chinese Land Rover, is preparing for its launch in the UK.
Its biggest car – U8 SUV – can even float in water for up to half an hour.
This off-roader can turn on a sixpence thanks to its quad motors, makes 1180bhp and has a kerb weight of nearly 3,500kg.
The incredible design is a range-extender with four motors, a 49kWh battery and a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine working as a generator.
Geely Auto
Geely is preparing a network of dealership in the UK[/caption]
As the parent company of Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus, the Chinese automaker may have a more recognisable name than others from its homeland.
It will launch in the UK with the EX5, an EV crossover that is comparable to the Skoda Enyaq, Nissan Ariya, and Hyundai Ioniq 5.
The roomy crossover is scheduled to be on sale in the UK in October and has been priced at a fair £31,990.
Geely then intends to expand its UK range, with more models expected to be released next year.
With its own network of dealerships and service facilities planned to follow, the imminent release shows Geely’s goal to become a hit in the UK.
Deepal
Deepal S07 SUV will be priced at just under £40,000[/caption]
The globally recognised car brand will soon be entering the UK landscape with the Deepal S05 – a stylish crossover that’s positioned to rival the Kia EV3.
According to Auto Express, the S05 will join Changan’s debut model for the British market, the Deepal S07 SUV.
Priced at under £40,000, the S07 not only boasts a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, but has also undergone over 150 market-specific adaptations to ensure it is ready for its UK launch.
Changan, which focuses on electric and hybrid powertrains, much like other Chinese car brands such as BYD, is building a dealership network in the UK, with plans for 60 outlets nationwide.
Skywell
Skywell has received mixed reviews from customers[/caption]
Skywell is the latest addition to the UK market with its BE11 electric SUV.
However, the brand’s been criticised for its high prices and forgettable style.
The reviews have been poor so far and the brand has only registered 11 vehicles this year.
Time will tell if Skywell succeeds in the UK market, as further versions, including a hatchback, saloon, and van, are reportedly on the horizon.
Maxus
Maxus launched the first ever electric pickup truck in the UK[/caption]
The release of the new eTerron 9 will make it the first 4×4 electric pickup truck ever sold in the UK.
Designed to rival trucks like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux, storage space is the name of the game of the eTerron.
Pre-orders will be available in October, before a general release in January.
Exact pricing remains unconfirmed, but it is expected to come in around £50,000, making it one of the cheapest pickups on the market.
MG IM
IM has been aiming at premium customers with supercar acceleration[/caption]
MG’s posh sub-brand called IM, which stands for Intelligence in Motion, plans to win over the British customer with supercar acceleration and air suspension.
IM5 is a fully loaded electric saloon, similar to Tesla Model 3, and IM6 is the SUV version, likened to Tesla Model Y.
Recharging to 80 per cent takes just 17 minutes thanks to the industry-leading 800v battery tech, spotted on Porsche and Kia.
The IM5 Long Range version has an official WLTP range of 441 miles, which could take you from London to Edinburgh in one go.
Both IM5 and IM6 get four-wheel steering as standard and they can self-park.
Poer
Poer is owned by Chinese giant GWM and has already landed in Australia[/caption]
Chinese giant GWM is also launching its Poer brand in the UK with a pickup truck.
With a tonne of equipment and technology, this truck is already available for purchase in Australia under the P-Series name.
Long and short beds, manual and automatic gearboxes, petrol and diesel engines and two or four-wheel drive are all mentioned by GWM.
The UK offering is anticipated to focus on diesel and four-wheel drive.
GAC
GAC will introduce the Aion UT in the UK market[/caption]
In the upcoming months, the Chinese firm GAC will introduce the Aion UT in the UK market.
An all-electric hatchback aims to compete with the iconic MINI with the two vehicles even sharing some similarities in appearance.
Despite being closer in size to the Volkswagen ID.3, the Aion UT is being positioned as “China’s version of the Mini”.
According to preliminary sources, it would cost around £20,000 and be built for city driving with an emphasis on comfort and interior space.
This makes it more affordable than rivals like the VW ID.3 and more on level with the MG 4 EV and Renault 5.
Alongside the Aion UT, GAC plans to introduce the Aion V – a mid-size SUV, targeting competitors like the Tesla Model Y – with its UK launch coming courtesy of a distribution agreement with Jameel Motors.
Nio
NIO ES8 is an all-electric, 7-seater midsize sport utility vehicle manufactured by Chinese automobile manufacturer NIO[/caption]
Nio is known for its innovative swappable battery packs, which completely eliminate the need for recharging.
The Chinese start-up, which is already selling cars in a few other European nations, plans to start in the UK after expanding its battery-swapping infrastructure.
The Tesla-rivalling ET5 saloon and ET5 Touring estate will be the first vehicles to arrive in the UK.
The EL7 SUV, the opulent ET7 saloon, and the ES8 big SUV may come after them.
