New-car fact frenzy: how Chinese brands are reshaping the UK market

January 21, 2026

Chinese-owned manufacturers tightened their grip on the UK new car market in 2025, with year-end registration data revealing how quickly competitive dynamics are shifting, particularly for EVs and plug-in hybrids.

Chinese brands move from challenger to mainstream

Across 2025, Chinese-owned brands accounted for 14.0% of UK registrations, up from 8.7% in 2024 and just 3% before the pandemic. That annual figure understates the pace of change: in December alone, their share surged to 23.7% of the market.

Geely, BYD and Chery close in on legacy leaders

Over the full year, Geely-owned brands led on 4.3% market share, followed by Chery (2.65%) and BYD (2.5%). In December, the gap narrowed further, with Geely on 5.6%, BYD at 5.3% and Chery at 4.9%; all approaching Ford’s 6.6% monthly share.

December EV volumes driven by compliance, not demand

ZEV mandate pressure shaped registration behaviour at year-end. Battery electric vehicles accounted for more than 32% of December registrations, compared with 23.4% across the full year, as OEMs pushed EV volumes to avoid fines.

PHEVs gain ground as diesel and petrol retreat

While EV registrations rose 24% year-on-year, plug-in hybrids climbed 34.7%, taking 11.1% of the market. Gains came largely at the expense of diesel (down 15%) and petrol (down 5%), a fall of more than 60,000 cars.

Visit SMMT for the latest market share data.