South Korean Media: Chinese Electric Vehicles Dominate the UK Market, Sales Surge 110% in First Half of Year!

On August 12, South Korea's Seoul Economic Daily published an article stating that Chinese electric vehicles are rapidly expanding their influence in the UK market. As the UK accelerates its transition toward electric mobility, sales of Chinese EV brands such as BYD have surged significantly, substantially increasing their market share.

According to data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), in the first half of this year, Chinese automotive brands including Chery, BYD, and Geely achieved sales of 183,000 units in the UK, a year-on-year increase of 110.1%. Their share of the UK new car market also rose by 7.7 percentage points compared to the same period last year, reaching 16.1%.

Dongshu Cui, Secretary-General of the China Passenger Car Association, analyzed: “The rapid rise of Chinese automotive brands in the UK and European markets is not a temporary phenomenon—it reflects structural changes driven by the reorganization around electric vehicles.” He added: “Chinese companies with competitiveness in pure electric and plug-in hybrid segments are now in a favorable position.”

Research reveals that MG, BYD, and Jetour are among the Chinese automotive brands with high recognition among UK consumers. According to SMMT data, sales figures for each brand in the first half of this year were as follows: MG—48,741 units (up 14.4% YoY); BYD—37,795 units (up 94.9% YoY); Chery—34,067 units (up 305.6% YoY). Zhejiang Leapmotor and XPeng Motors also recorded sales of 6,770 units (up 1,149% YoY) and 767 units (up 365% YoY), respectively.

A representative from BYD UK stated: “Some customers have canceled orders for British McLaren and Italian Ferrari vehicles, opting instead for the sports model ‘Denza Z’ from BYD’s premium brand Denza. On its launch day, Denza Z received approximately 20 orders just in Serbia, while orders poured in from overseas markets including Europe and the Middle East.”

Sales of Chinese automobiles in Europe continue to grow. According to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), as of May this year, total sales of Chinese automotive brands in Europe reached 138,410 units, up 64.6% year on year.

Meanwhile, following the introduction of a £650 million electric vehicle subsidy in July last year, the UK announced an additional £1.3 billion in subsidies in December of the same year. Furthermore, the UK plans to invest £200 million to expand charging infrastructure, aiming to achieve an 80% electric vehicle penetration rate by 2030.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1873324402646090/

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