MAIDSTONE, England — Izzy Woodrow is a believer.
4 weeks in the past, he joined the small however rising variety of Brits who’ve purchased a Chinese language-made car.
“I’ve obtained a automobile that I get pleasure from driving [and is] tremendous comfortable. It is very quiet and the match and end is nice and the expertise expertise is pleasant ” Woodrow stated throughout an interview at Lipscomb Automobiles in Maidstone, England. The Geely dealership southeast of London opened throughout the previous 12 months.
It is a part of a development, as gross sales of Chinese language-made autos have been surging in the UK.
In 2015, Brits purchased simply 384 Chinese language automobiles imported into the nation, in response to Mobility World, an automotive consulting agency. By 2020, that quantity climbed to 25,302, and final 12 months it topped 285,000.
Regardless of promoting simply two Geely fashions, Lipscomb has been attracting consumers like Chris and Tracy Smith.
“It is worth for cash, and what you are getting in tools versus a few of the prime manufacturers which might be promoting for most likely extra money, however with much less equipment on it,” stated Chris Smith.
Analyst Will Roberts of Benchmark, an automotive consulting agency, stated Chinese language-made automobiles from firms like BYD are not a novelty within the U.Okay.
“I bear in mind noticing the primary BYD crossing London Bridge a few years in the past, and that was an enormous second in a approach. Ever since then, it is simply develop into second nature,” Roberts stated.
A BYD Co. Sealion 7 EV charging at a roadside cost level in central London, UK, on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026.
Jason Alden | Bloomberg | Getty Pictures
China’s auto exports have boomed in recent times because the nation’s urge for food for brand new fashions has cooled. Within the first half of 2026, retail auto gross sales fell 26% whereas auto exports have been up 72% in contrast with final 12 months, in response to the China Affiliation of Car Producers.
Whereas all of Europe has seen an inflow of Chinese language-built vehicles and SUVs, the U.Okay. stands out as a result of it doesn’t cost an extra tariff on plug-in hybrid electrical automobiles, which is the case within the European Union.
That has supplied a gap for Chinese language automakers.
“It turns into a wonderful dimension market that is progressing properly in the direction of electrification and is in demand for some cheaper automobiles with that void to fill,” Roberts stated.
Many Chinese language fashions are priced a number of thousand kilos beneath comparable fashions from legacy automakers. For instance, a brand new Volkswagen Tiguan plug-in hybrid inbuilt Germany sells in the UK for simply over £43,000 ($58,000). By comparability, the BYD Seal U inbuilt China prices nearly £10,000 much less.
Executives for legacy automakers, together with america’ so-called Huge 3, have lengthy complained that subsidies the Chinese language authorities offers automakers permits these firms to promote vehicles for a lot lower than different automakers in Asia, the U.S. and Europe. Regardless of these complaints, China auto exports continue to grow.
“The Chinese language are coming into Europe with actually enticing vehicles at actually enticing costs with expertise that form of blows away what they’ll purchase from a European producer, ” former Normal Motors board member Jon McNeill advised CNBC.
At Lipscomb Automobiles, vendor John Panda-Noah stated he believes the aggressive pricing may get consumers within the door, however the match, end and expertise in a brand new Geely are what wins them over.
“After they see the automobile, they’re blown away by how good they give the impression of being,” he stated.
