Chinese car brands to bring huge changes for UK buyers in 2025 and beyond

Things are about to change for car buyers in the UK, and that’s due in no small part to China. Until recently, the economic powerhouse has largely stayed clear of Europe’s car market, focusing instead on building affordable models for its domestic market. But major investment into electric tech over the past few years has put Chinese car makers in a great position to tackle Europe – and they’re all coming at once.

Names like BYD, GWM, and MG (yes, it’s technically Chinese-owned now) might not be household staples just yet, but they’re creating a stir with EVs and hybrids packed with features that punch well above their price tags. Think cutting-edge batteries, advanced driving assistance features and premium interiors – all for less than what you'd pay for a comparable European model.

For car buyers, this influx of new players is good news. More competition means more choice, better value, and potentially faster innovation as traditional car makers race to keep up. Of course, this isn’t just about cheaper cars; the arrival of these brands is also shaking up the UK’s automotive landscape, putting pressure on established manufacturers to step their game up or risk customers looking elsewhere.

So, is the future of driving made in China? Perhaps it’s too early to say, but these are the brands that are worth watching.

BYD

BYD – or Build Your Dreams – was founded in 1995 as a battery manufacturer, only pivoting to car production in 2003. Interestingly, its first cars were petrol-powered, but the brand soon used its battery expertise to start building plug-in hybrids and electric cars.

Today, BYD is the one of the largest manufacturers of electric cars on the planet, tussling with Tesla at the top of the global EV sales table. Most of that success can be attributed to its growth in China, overtaking Volkswagen as the best-selling brand in the country, but models like the Dolphin, Seal and Atto 3 are proving popular in Europe, too. UK customers are currently offered those three electric models, plus the Sealion 07 and the plug-in hybrid Seal U, while more models like the Atto 2 are in the pipeline.

MG

Forget everything you know about the MG brand that popularised small sports cars in the UK in the 20th century. While the badge on today’s MG cars is the same, the bodywork – and what lies underneath – is very different. The British firm was founded in 1920 and, after various changes in ownership, ended up in the hands of SAIC in 2007, a Chinese state-owned auto conglomerate that has since transformed MG into an affordable hybrid and EV brand.

Chinese-designed MGs have been on sale for a while now. The first new model was the MG6, swiftly followed by the MG3. But sales would take off for MG in the UK with the release of the MG4, MG5 and ZS EV, a series of practical electric cars that undercut the European competition. To this day, MG offers some of the best value for money you can find on four wheels, with cars like the new MG3 offering a full-hybrid system for under £20,000.

Omoda

Chery is one of the biggest car manufacturers in China, but you wouldn’t know it over here. That’s because it sells cars under a series of sub-brands, two of which are Omoda and Jaecoo. Both brands have launched in the UK, aiming to take on established European brands with a focus on value for money.

Let’s start with Omoda. Its sole offering in the UK at present is the 5 SUV; a Nissan Qashqai rival powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine. There’s an electric version too – the E5 – which delivers up to 257 miles of range from its 61kWh battery. Nothing extraordinary, but its starting price of around £33,000 puts it in similar territory to the Volkswagen ID.3, a much smaller electric hatchback.

Jaecoo

Jaecoo is positioned as a more premium brand, currently offering one SUV. The Jaecoo 7 can be had with either a petrol engine or a plug-in hybrid system, but it aims to offer better tech and a more upmarket feel than rival SUVs from Volkswagen and Toyota.

GWM

Another car building heavyweight, Great Wall Motors (GWM) sold well over a million cars worldwide in 2023, and it has its fingers in more pies than you might realise. Some will be surprised to learn that the latest electric MINI Cooper is a product of a joint venture between GWM and BMW. In fact, all of the new electric MINIs will be built at GWM’s plant in China until 2026.

GWM itself sells cars under several badges, including Ora. The Funky Cat – later renamed the 03 – was its first model to be sold in the UK, and the brand is planning further UK expansion. Joining Ora next year will be Haval, GWM’s SUV-focused brand that has so far confirmed the Jolion Pro for the UK.

Leapmotor

Leapmotor made headlines earlier this year with its new electric supermini, the T03, which launched in the UK with a stunning price tag of just £16,000. It’s being brought to the UK through a joint venture with Leapmotor and Stellantis, and will be sold in Peugeot and Citroen dealerships across the country.

Despite the bargain price, the T03 still packs a reasonable EV punch. It’ll travel up to 165 miles on a charge, just beating the Dacia Spring, and comes with all the kit you could need – even a panoramic sunroof. It could be the ideal affordable run-around for city-dwellers, undercutting the already great-value Citroen e-C3.

XPeng

XPeng recently announced that it would be entering the UK car market with the G6 electric SUV. Sleek, hi-tech and – at least in pictures – very orange, it’s aimed squarely at the Tesla Model Y. Pricing is still unknown, but it’s expected to be positioned further upmarket than some of these other Chinese brands.

We only have details for the G6 so far, but XPeng has confirmed that it plans to bring more models to the UK in the future. In other markets, you can buy an XPeng saloon, SUV and even a people carrier.

Zeekr

We doubt many readers will be familiar with Zeekr, but we suspect some of you will have heard of Geely. For those not in the know, Geely is another giant auto maker from China, and it’s already made a big impact in the UK. It owns some of the UK’s favourite car brands, including Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, Smart and LEVC – they build London’s black taxis.

Zeekr is set to be Geely’s next UK-bound brand, with sales already having started in Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands. If we’re to get the same models as those countries, UK customers will soon have the Zeekr 001 and Zeekr X to pick from. The former is a big, premium hatchback with a range of up to 385 miles, while the X is a more traditional small electric SUV.

Anyone else?

Of course, there are many other Chinese car makers out there, but the ones listed above are the big players that are either already here or have announced a timeframe for UK expansion.

Other names to be aware of include Nio, a brand that already sells EVs in a select few European countries and has suggested that a UK launch is in the works. Lynk & Co, another subsidiary of Geely, is expected to make its UK debut soon, too, although it’s currently unclear when that will happen.

Read more about the 10 best electric cars here…