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 automobile.
“I’ve acquired a automotive that I take pleasure in driving [and is] tremendous comfortable. It’s totally quiet and the match and end is nice and the know-how expertise is pleasant ” Woodrow mentioned throughout an interview at Lipscomb Vehicles in Maidstone, England. The Geely dealership southeast of London opened throughout the previous yr.
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 autos imported into the nation, in line with Mobility World, an automotive consulting agency. By 2020, that quantity climbed to 25,302, and final yr it topped 285,000.
Regardless of promoting simply two Geely fashions, Lipscomb has been attracting patrons like Chris and Tracy Smith.
“It is worth for cash, and what you are getting in gear versus among the high manufacturers which are promoting for in all probability extra money, however with much less equipment on it,” mentioned Chris Smith.
Analyst Will Roberts of Benchmark, an automotive consulting agency, mentioned Chinese language-made autos from corporations like BYD are not a novelty within the U.Okay.
“I keep in mind noticing the primary BYD crossing London Bridge a few years in the past, and that was an enormous second in a means. Ever since then, it is simply turn into second nature,” Roberts mentioned.
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 Photos
China’s auto exports have boomed in recent times because the nation’s urge for food for brand spanking 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 yr, in line with the China Affiliation of Vehicle 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 autos, which is the case within the European Union.
That has offered a gap for Chinese language automakers.
“It turns into a superb dimension market that is progressing nicely in direction of electrification and is in demand for some cheaper autos with that void to fill,” Roberts mentioned.
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 virtually £10,000 much less.
Executives for legacy automakers, together with the US’ so-called Large 3, have lengthy complained that subsidies the Chinese language authorities offers automakers permits these corporations 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 know-how that kind of blows away what they will purchase from a European producer, ” former Basic Motors board member Jon McNeill advised CNBC.
At Lipscomb Vehicles, seller John Panda-Noah mentioned he believes the aggressive pricing may get patrons within the door, however the match, end and know-how in a brand new Geely are what wins them over.
“Once they see the automotive, they’re blown away by how good they appear,” he mentioned.
