Chinese car brands are gaining an increasing stronghold on Britain's car market - but older drivers remain skeptical over concerns about privacy risk, market research says. Registrations figures for 2024 show a 14% increase in sales of models from the four major Chinese brands now available in the UK: BYD, MG, Omoda and Ora. These made up 5% of all new cars bought in Britain last year, representing almost 100,000 motors entering the road.
Many of these are electric vehicles as China continues to reap the benefit of investing heavily in battery car development ahead of European rivals, a move experts predict will bring these Far East brands huge success in the next decade. By the time the UK's ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars comes into force in 2030, Chinese brands could account for a quarter of the UK's EV market or 400,000 cars on the road, according to Auto Trader's Road to 2030 Report.[1] The study found an increasing acceptance of Chinese cars among the nation's car buyers, with two in five buyers now willing to consider one. However, older drivers are still suspicious and harboring major concerns about data security, quality and pricing, the report says.
Chinese car brands saw a 14% increase in UK registrations in 2024. One in four Britons say they would consider buying one but older motorists are still skeptical over privacy concerns. The 81,536 MGs sold last year put the Shanghai-owned manufacturer 10th in the standings for most popular brands of 2024. Its selection of affordable combustion and electric cars has seen it climb up the order in recent years.
To put its popularity into perspective, more MGs were bought in the UK than Vauxhalls (78,895), Skodas (78,601), Peugeots (68,905), Volvos (66,408), Land Rovers (61,290), Renaults (57,967), Teslas (50,334), Minis (46,975), Seats (36,782), Dacias (31,457) and Hondas (30,636).
BYD and Omoda - both relative newcomers emerging on the UK market in 2023 and 2024 - amassed 8,788 and 3,629 sales respectively last year, while Great Wall Motors' Ora brand upped its registrations to 1,162 in the previous 12 months.
Jaecoo - which is a marque belonging to the Chinese Chery brand - and Skywell amassed 215 registrations in their debut years in the UK.
Ten cars from European and US brands you might not know are made in China: https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-14189617/Ten-cars-mainstream-brands-not-know-China.html
The total market share of Chinese-built vehicles entering the road will be higher too, with brands including Polestar, Volvo, Tesla and even Mini now producing models in the country.
Auto Trader, the nation's biggest online car platform, carried out its annual study into changing appetite for motors from China, the latest based on a poll of 3,985 UK adults. It found the greatest support for Chinese brands comes from the 17-to-34 age group, with 57% of those surveyed attracted by factors including innovative technology and affordability compared to a quarter of over 55s.
And older drivers are generally a lot less accepting of the idea of driving a Chinese car. The research found two fifths of motorists aged 55 and over are concerned by data security and privacy risks when buying Chinese products, with 43% of the same age group mistrusting the quality of goods. By far the most popular Chinese brand in the UK is MG Motor. It sold 81,536 cars last year, which is more than Vauxhall, Skoda, Peugeot and Volvo and makes it the 10th manufacturer in order of registrations. The MG4 EV (orange vehicle pictured) is one of its biggest sellers.
BYD amassed 8,788 sales in 2024 in its first full year in the UK - though still with a relatively small range of EVs, including the Dolphin (pictured) China's all-electric BYD Dolphin lands ashore. Omoda is one of the latest Chinese newcomers to arrive in Britain. It racked up over 3,600 registrations in 2024
Dr. Andy Palmer, former chief executive of Aston Martin and operating chief of Nissan, says Britons are wrong to be suspicious of Chinese brands, certainly when it comes to them being fitted with covert spyware. “Smart electronics and AI software are a phenomena of our time, and proliferate into almost everything we own. For some, this has raised concern about the growth in Chinese EVs and the risk of spying,” the founder Palmer Energy, supplier of home, commercial and grid scale batteries, said. “We should be cognizant of the risk but not attribute this only to China and only to EVs. The same functions can exist on internal combustion cars, and the risk from phones is probably greater.”
Where Chinese brands rank in the list of UK car brands by 2024 sales:
- Volkswagen: 166,304
- BMW: 125,265
- Audi: 122,431
- Kia: 112,252
- Ford: 109,955
- Mercedes-Benz: 102,757
- Toyota: 101,444
- Nissan: 100,446
- Hyundai: 91,808
- MG: 81,536
- Vauxhall: 78,895
- Skoda: 78,601
- Peugeot: 68,905
- Volvo: 66,408
- Land Rover: 61,290
- Renault: 57,967
- Tesla: 50,334
- Mini: 46,975
- Seat: 36,782
- Dacia: 31,457
- Honda: 30,636
- Cupra: 30,398
- Citroen: 30,371
- Mazda: 28,429
- Suzuki: 23,059
- Porsche: 20,000
- Lexus: 16,651
- Jaguar: 16,617
- Fiat: 14,253
- Jeep: 9,041
- BYD: 8,788
- Polestar: 8,693
- Omoda: 3,629
- Other British: 3,452
- Subaru: 2,419
- Other Imports: 2,100
- Smart: 1,981
- Alfa Romeo: 1,666
- KGM (formerly SangYong): 1,617
- Genesis: 1,210
- Ora: 1,162
- DS Automobiles: 1,152
- Abarth: 1,027
- Bentley: 919
- Maserati: 469
- Alpine: 371
- Ineos Automotive: 350
- Fisker: 259
- Jaecoo 209
- Maxus 31
- Skywell: 6
- Chevrolet: 1
Source: Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders
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[1] https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-14342425/Chinese-car-sales-surge-Britain-older-drivers-remain-fearful-data-security.html
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