UK drivers show rising interest in Chinese car brands

Consumer interest in Chinese automotive brands is rising rapidly in the United Kingdom. According to research from Carwow, 49 per cent of UK motorists would now consider a Chinese brand for their next vehicle purchase. This represents a significant increase from 35 per cent in the first half of 2025 and 24 per cent in early 2023.

Data from the Carwow platform shows that leads for Chinese brands jumped from 14 per cent in the first half of 2025 to 30 per cent in the first half of 2026. Conversely, interest in established brands from Europe, North America, Japan, and South Korea has declined from 86 per cent to 70 per cent during the same period.

Key drivers for this shift include value for money, which was cited by 42 per cent of respondents, as well as increased brand awareness and an expanding range of available models. Brands such as BYD, Jaecoo, Omoda, Chery, Geely, and Aion are among those seeing increased attention. Specifically, brand awareness for Jaecoo rose to 69 per cent, up from 46 per cent a year ago.