Chinese Carmakers Take 16% of UK Market as July EV Registrations Rise 49%

Latest data from UK automotive research firm New Automotive showed that new vehicle registrations in the UK reached 158,728 units in July 2026, up 15.6% year-on-year.

Battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations climbed to 43,547 units, up 49% from a year earlier, lifting BEV penetration to 27.4% and making electric vehicles the primary driver of overall market growth.

Including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), electrified vehicles accounted for 72.6% of all new vehicle registrations in the UK. The share has remained above 50% for five consecutive months.

By contrast, registrations of conventional internal combustion engine vehicles continued to decline.

Petrol vehicle registrations fell 8.2% year-on-year in July, while diesel registrations dropped 10.6%, as their market share continued to be displaced by electrified vehicles.

As the UK’s NEV market continued to expand, Chinese automakers further increased their presence.

Data showed Chinese brands collectively accounted for 16% of the UK’s new vehicle market in July.

Among individual brands, SAIC Motor’s MG maintained its position as the leading Chinese marque in the UK.

MG registered 7,267 vehicles in July, up 21.4% year-on-year, giving it a 5% market share.

Supported by its established dealer network and product lineup built over years in the UK market, MG continued to deliver stable sales.

At present, IM Motors conducts sales operations in the UK through MG’s existing dealer network, leveraging its established offline channels to accelerate local brand rollout.

Chery Group’s Omoda and Jaecoo emerged as the fastest-growing brand combination. The two brands registered a combined 9,043 vehicles in July, representing a year-on-year increase of 1,137%.

Of the total, Omoda registered 3,439 vehicles, while Jaecoo contributed 5,604. As their product portfolios continue to expand, both brands are accelerating their growth in the UK market.

BYD also maintained strong momentum. In June, BYD registered 6,631 vehicles in the UK, up 92% year-on-year, including 2,796 battery electric vehicles and 3,835 plug-in hybrid models.

In the UK’s BEV market, BYD ranked third with a 6% market share, behind only Volkswagen and Kia.

The company continues to pursue a dual-product strategy in the UK, offering both BEVs and PHEVs to address a broader range of customer demand.

Leapmotor has also accelerated its UK expansion through its distribution partnership with Stellantis.

The company registered 1,610 vehicles in July, including 1,557 battery electric vehicles, giving it an estimated 4% share of the UK’s BEV market.

Among established automakers, Volkswagen remained the UK’s best-selling automotive group, registering 14,260 vehicles in July, equivalent to roughly 9% of the overall market.

Meanwhile, premium brands showed diverging performances. Audi’s registrations fell 10% year-on-year in July, while BMW declined 7.7%, underscoring intensifying competition as electrified vehicles gain market share.