Cars manufactured by Chinese companies now account for roughly one in ten new vehicles sold in the United Kingdom, marking a significant shift in the country’s automotive market.

The milestone reflects the rapid expansion of Chinese manufacturers, particularly in the electric and plug-in hybrid segments, where competitive pricing, improving quality and advanced battery technology have attracted growing numbers of British consumers.

Industry data for the past year show that Chinese-made vehicles have steadily increased their market share, driven by brands that were largely unknown in the UK only a few years ago.

Many of these companies have focused on electric vehicles, benefiting from strong consumer demand as the UK transitions away from petrol and diesel cars.

Analysts say Chinese manufacturers have been able to scale production quickly and bring models to market at prices that undercut many established European, Japanese and South Korean rivals.

The rise of Chinese-built cars has intensified competition across the sector and raised strategic questions for policymakers and legacy automakers.

While some vehicles are sold under Chinese brand names, others enter the UK market through joint ventures or well-known global marques that manufacture models in China for export.

This has blurred traditional distinctions between domestic, European and Asian producers.

UK industry figures note that the trend underscores broader changes in global automotive supply chains, particularly as electric vehicle production becomes increasingly concentrated in countries with strong battery manufacturing capacity.

With further models due to launch and consumer familiarity increasing, market watchers expect the share of Chinese-made cars in the UK to continue rising in the coming years.