Chinese Automakers Lift UK Sales to 285,000 as PHEV Tariff Gap Fuels Demand
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Jul 17
Chinese Automakers Lift UK Sales to 285,000 as PHEV Tariff Gap Fuels Demand
1 articles · Updated · CNBC · Jul 17
Summary
UK buyers purchased more than 285,000 Chinese-made vehicles last year, up from 25,302 in 2020 and just 384 in 2015, turning once-niche brands into a fast-growing part of the market.
The surge is being driven by lower prices and Britain's lack of an extra tariff on plug-in hybrids, unlike the EU, giving Chinese brands a clearer path into an electrifying market.
BYD and Geely are undercutting established rivals by several thousand pounds; a BYD Seal U costs nearly £10,000 less in the UK than a German-built Volkswagen Tiguan plug-in hybrid.
China's export push is adding momentum: first-half 2026 retail auto sales at home fell 26% while auto exports jumped 72%, pushing manufacturers to lean harder on overseas markets such as the UK.