Over the last few years, we have seen a number of new car brands hitting the UK market. Some have been a roaring success, while others have faltered. Nevertheless, there are plenty more on the way, most of which herald from China, where there is a well-established and highly competitive EV market. Let’s take a brief look at just some of the new Chinese brands that are shaking up the car industry here in the UK.

Jaecoo

The Jaecoo name is derived from the German word for hunter (Jäger) and the English word ‘cool’. A subsidiary of one of China’s biggest car brands, Chery Automobile, the company has been building Land Rovers in China for well over a decade, and combined with its sister brand, Omoda (another new entrant to the UK market), they have sold nearly 400,000 vehicles worldwide since 2022.

Their first UK offering, the Jaecoo 7, which debuted at last year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, is a family SUV that’s set to rival the ever-popular Kia Sportage.

BYD (Build Your Dreams)

Originally a battery manufacturer, BYD made waves back in 2020 with its Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Blade Battery and now works with some of the biggest car brands including Toyota, Mercedes, Ford, and Tesla. They are also well-known for their energy storage solutions and electric buses.

Despite being new to the UK car market, BYD is China’s largest EV manufacturer, selling millions of vehicles globally every year. UK drivers bought nearly 9,000 BYD EVs last year, and their line-up currently includes the Dolphin hatchback, Seal saloon, and Sealion mid-size SUV.

GWM (Ora)

GWM Ora entered the UK market with the Funky Cat, which has recently been rebranded as the Ora 03. They have also launched the Haval Jolion Pro, a competitively priced hybrid SUV aimed at buyers who are not quite ready for a pure EV. Their parent company, Great Wall Motor Company (GWM), has been exporting vehicles worldwide for a quarter of a century but until now has taken a fairly cautious approach to the UK.

Skywell

Part of the Skyworth consumer electronics giant, Skywell aims to sell 250,000 vehicles annually by 2025, with models like the BE11 SUV, the upcoming Skywell Q hatchback, and the Skyhome saloon. A new electric van is also in development.

Nio

Nio hit the headlines with their battery swap stations that allow a full charge in under five minutes. In theory, it is a great solution, but the reality is that rolling out the necessary infrastructure across the UK would require a massive investment and take quite a few years to deliver. By that time, battery charge times are likely to have decreased to a level that would make the solution far less attractive.

With the EU imposing high tariffs, the UK is a strategic market for Nio’s Onvo L60 coupé-SUV, a Tesla Model Y rival priced at around £40,000. Nio also plans to introduce its budget Firefly brand in the UK.

Xpeng

Xpeng’s UK launch introduced the G6 Ultra Smart Coupe SUV, with more models — including the AI-defined P7+ on the way. The brand is also investing in fast-charging infrastructure across China via a strategic partnership with BP Pulse. What’s even more interesting is that they have recently shown off a very clever vehicle that drives like a car or van but is actually a transporter for a personal helicopter.

Omoda

Omoda, part of China’s Chery group, launched in the UK with the Omoda 5 SUV, which is available as a petrol-only or electric model. Competing with the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Niro, its price point is the key attraction, starting at £25,000 for the petrol version and £33,000 for the EV.

Zeekr

Zeekr is a premium EV brand under the Geely umbrella and has already sold over 250,000 vehicles globally. Following a successful European debut, a UK launch is expected this year, with more models on the horizon.

Leapmotor

A tech-driven EV company, Leapmotor gained global attention after partnering with Stellantis. It now offers an all-electric SUV known as the C10, which has a very respectable 261-mile range, as well as a budget-friendly city car, the T03, for just under £16,000.

Lynk & Co

A joint venture between Geely and Zeekr, Lynk & Co focuses on connectivity and innovation, such as shareable digital keys. Early models have already reached Europe, but UK availability is not yet clear.

IM Motors

Backed by SAIC and Alibaba, IM Motors develops high-end EVs, and their IM L6 saloon, which features a semi-solid-state battery capable of up to 500 miles of range, is set to rival Tesla and Polestar in the UK soon.

These are just some of the brands that we can expect to see shaking up the car industry in the UK. If you would like to find out more about these manufacturers and what they have to offer, just get in touch.