More than 300,000 Chinese cars have been sold in the UK this year, establishing a new record as European competitors lose market share. Data from The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) indicates that Chinese carmakers comprised five of the top 25 brands in the first nine months of 2026, representing just under a quarter of the market by volume.
MG, acquired by Chinese owners in 2006, was the leading Chinese brand with nearly 80,000 registrations, followed by BYD with 68,000. Jaecoo secured 59,000 registrations and its '7' SUV was the best-selling model in the UK during September, with over 10,000 units sold.
Total car registrations in September exceeded 350,000, marking the best September performance since 2017. European car manufacturers continued to see a decline in their market position, with only the Vauxhall Corsa, VW Golf, and Audi A3 making it into the top 10 models for the month. Chinese carmakers, all of whom sell electric vehicles, have benefited from a broader shift towards electric vehicles amidst rising fuel prices.
Plug-in hybrid registrations increased by 55.7 per cent, achieving a record volume and a 17.0 per cent market share. Demand for Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) rose by 36.3 per cent in September to a record volume of just under 100,000 units, with their market share increasing by five percentage points to 28.3 per cent. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes noted that drivers are increasingly adopting electric models, partly due to high fuel prices, but uptake remains behind mandated targets.