UK car sales top 2m in 2025 as Chinese brands boom

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Jasper JollyJanuary 6, 2026 at 01:01 AM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

UK car sales surpassed 2 million in 2025, the highest since 2019, driven by a surge in popularity of Chinese brands. Chinese companies accounted for 9.7% of new car registrations, nearly double their 2024 market share. Electric car sales also rose significantly, comprising 23.4% of the overall market and contributing to a 10% decrease in average new car emissions. This increase in Chinese car sales, particularly from brands like MG, BYD, and Chery, impacted Japanese and some European manufacturers. The rise of Chinese brands in the UK market is attributed to the country not imposing tariffs on imports from China, unlike the US or EU.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Elon Musk 30% Germany 30% United States 40% European Union ×240% Tesla 50% Mike Hawes 50% Chery ×260% MG ×260% BYD ×260% Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) ×270% China ×685% UK ×790%

Keywords

chinese brands 100% uk car sales 90% electric car sales 80% market share 70% zero-emission vehicle mandate 70% car manufacturers 60% byd 50% vehicle registrations 50% mg 40% plug-in hybrid electric vehicles 40%