10/25/2026
Chinese car brands are growing fast in the UK ๐โก
In September 2026, Chinese brands made up 23.3% of all new car registrations in the UK, up from 12.4% a year earlier. BYD alone registered more than 20,000 cars that month. Affordable electric vehicles are a big reason for this growth, and they are giving traditional carmakers plenty of new motivation to innovate.
The Spectator suggests that Britain could benefit from working closely with the EU's proposed "Made in Europe" strategy. The reason is trade. Around 57% of UK-built cars were exported to the EU in 2025, which makes Europe the most important market for British car factories.
The EU's proposed Industrial Accelerator Act aims to strengthen local manufacturing. Under the proposal, some public incentives and procurement programs for electric vehicles could require final assembly in the EU, plus at least 70% of the value of non-battery components coming from EU sources. The proposal is still being discussed, and the final details may change.
Meanwhile, brands like BYD, XPeng and Changan are expanding across Europe, competing on price, battery technology and production costs. This healthy competition could bring more choice and more affordable EVs for drivers.
What do you think about the rise of Chinese EVs? ๐ฌ
Source: The Spectator, SMMT