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 car.
“I’ve obtained a automobile that I get pleasure from driving [and is] tremendous cozy. It is very quiet and the match and end is nice and the expertise expertise is gratifying ” Woodrow mentioned throughout an interview at Lipscomb Vehicles in Maidstone, England. The Geely dealership southeast of London opened inside 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 keeping with Mobility International, 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 tools versus a few of the high manufacturers which are promoting for most likely more cash, 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 bear in mind noticing the primary BYD crossing London Bridge a few years in the past, and that was a giant second in a manner. Ever since then, it is simply turn out to be 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 Pictures
China’s auto exports have boomed lately 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 keeping with the China Affiliation of Car Producers.
Whereas all of Europe has seen an inflow of Chinese language-built automobiles and SUVs, the U.Okay. stands out as a result of it doesn’t cost a further tariff on plug-in hybrid electrical autos, which is the case within the European Union.
That has supplied a gap for Chinese language automakers.
“It turns into a wonderful measurement market that is progressing effectively in the 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 in-built Germany sells in the UK for simply over £43,000 ($58,000). By comparability, the BYD Seal U in-built China prices virtually £10,000 much less.
Executives for legacy automakers, together with the USA’ so-called Huge 3, have lengthy complained that subsidies the Chinese language authorities gives automakers permits these corporations to promote automobiles 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 automobiles at actually enticing costs with expertise that type of blows away what they’ll purchase from a European producer, ” former Normal 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 expertise in a brand new Geely are what wins them over.
“Once they see the automobile, they’re blown away by how good they give the impression of being,” he mentioned.