More than a quarter of Britons have responded to a poll saying they would consider buying a Chinese car, as brands from the region become more prominent in the UK.
Some 29 per cent told online marketplace Carwow that they would have a Chinese brand as their next car.
This is despite growing concerns around the adoption of Chinese technology and fears over spy software.
We’ve listed 10 Chinese brands that are already selling in the UK or are soon due to do so.
Would you buy a Chinese car? A poll of 1,314 UK drivers found that 29% would openly consider one for their next set of wheels. Cast your verdict in the poll below…
When asked what might draw them to a Chinese vehicle, one in three (30 per cent) said they offer better value for money when compared to mainstream brands from Europe, the US, Japan and Korea, which currently share the stronghold on Britain’s new-car market.
Almost a fifth (19 per cent) said they are more competitively priced and one in 10 (10 per cent) said they have ‘more and better’ technology.
However, plenty of the 1,314 drivers polled raised their reservations about buying a new car from a Chinese maker.
Top of the reasons to avoid was concerns around ‘political matters’, according to over a third (37 per cent) of responses from those not wanting to buy Chinese.
This follows recent concerns raised around Chinese technology – including Huawei smartphones and the TikTok app – and their potential to be used to spy on Britons.
Other areas of contention raised by the survey respondents include build quality (36 per cent) and a lack of familiarity with the brands (28 per cent).
When asked what might persuade them to consider a Chinese car, a fifth (21 per cent) said they wanted more time to become accustomed to the makers and their vehicles.
When asked what might draw them to a Chinese vehicle, one in three (30 per cent) said they offer better value for money when compared to mainstream brands from Europe, the US, Japan and Korea, which currently share the stronghold on Britain’s new-car market
We’ve created a poll for MailOnline and This is Money readers to have their say on whether they would buy a vehicle produced by a Chinese manufacturer.
While Britons appear more averse to buying Chinese vehicles, there appears to be a more open approach in other European countries.
The wider study also quizzed German and Spanish car buyers.
Drivers in Germany were on par with Britain in terms of reluctance to buy Chinese cars, with just 30 per cent saying they’d have one next, but in Spain there was a greater acceptance level, with 43 per cent open to the option.
James Hind, co-founder and CEO of Carwow, said: ‘The fact that more than one in four drivers would now consider a Chinese car is testament to how quickly we’re seeing perception shifting.
‘However, Chinese car manufacturers looking to launch in the UK also have a job to do to win over new drivers; they’re battling a near-complete lack of brand awareness and will want to turn around the public’s current perception of build-quality.
‘But, while build quality might have been an issue in the past, it’s now very high, as is design and safety.’
The latest car brand to enter the UK market is BYD. Find out more about this maker – and nine others from China – in our list below
Mr Hind added: ‘Chinese cars have modern, sleek styling, and European designers are being headhunted by Chinese manufacturers to ensure new models have high kerb appeal.
‘Meanwhile, Chinese cars are getting some of the highest safety ratings in Europe, beating cars from more established brands.’
Carwow says that electric vehicles are where Chinese brands are focusing – as you can see from the list of 10 manufacturers below that already sell EVs in the UK or have plans to do so shortly.
China has access to battery processing and production capabilities, and can produce high-quality, long-range EV much more cheaply than European manufacturers, Hind says.
‘This is likely to drive the price of EVs down, while also increasing choice in the market, all of which is great news for British motorists considering switching to EVs.
‘The majority of people tell us they are put off buying an EV because of the high purchase cost.
‘But given the competitive prices being offered by Chinese manufacturers, this could all change.’
He went on: ‘We’re always excited to see new car brands launching on carwow’s site; offering consumers more choice at different price-points.
‘One of the most popular car brands on carwow is made by a Chinese-owned manufacturer – MG – with its model, MG4, winning our Car of The Year Award 2023 – due to its brilliant design, quality and outstanding value for money.
‘If Chinese brands can continue this trend of shifting perceptions and increasing their brand awareness, the next few years look set to be significant ones for Chinese car brands in the UK.’
10 CHINESE CAR BRANDS COMING TO THE UK
1. Aiways
Aiways has already established its European headquarters in Germany and has previously spoken about entering the UK market this year
Chinese firm Aiways could be selling cars in Britain in the coming months and already has its European headquarters in Germany.
The first model that’s likely to be seen on UK roads is its U5, which has a range of around 250 miles.
2. BYD
The Atto 3 is the first model from BYD to go on sale in Britain earlier this year, with prices starting at £36,490
BYD – which means Build Your Dreams – has already introduced its first UK model – the Atto 3 family SUV, which we drove earlier this year.
It costs from £36,490 and has a range of 260 miles.
3. Chery
Chery could become a UK car seller as early as 2024 – and it will likely sell both petrol and electric-powered vehicles
Chinese car giant Chery is expected to launch its first car in Britain from early 2024.
While it will focus mostly on battery electric models, it is also expected to make available some with petrol engines that have proved popular in its domestic market.
4. HiPhi
HiPhi is another Chinese start-up with grand plans to break into the European market shortly
Chinese auto start-up HiPhi is due to start selling electric cars in Europe before the end of this year and expects to enter the UK market shortly after, according to reports in Auto Express.
It will offer the HiPhi Z and HiPhi X in Germany and Norway.
5. LEVC
One Chinese car you might have travelled in without knowing is an electric black cab. The brand that produces them – LEVC – is owned by Chinese Geely
It might say London Electric Vehicle Company in the branding, but LEVC is owned and operated by Chinese automotive giant Geely.
It has been producing electrified black cabs seen in our major cities since 2017, meaning this is one Chinese car many people have unknowingly travelled in.
6. Lynk & Co
Lynk & Co could be selling – on monthly subscriptions – its cars to Britain in the coming months
Another Geely product is Lynk & Co, which is set to offer cars to British drivers from next year.
Its ownership platform is somewhat different to convention, though. While you can buy its cars outright, most will be acquired on monthly subscriptions.
7. MG Motor
MG Motor sold over 50,000 cars in Britain last year and will look to beat that figure in 2023
The most successful arrival from the Chinese market in recent years is MG Motor.
Its range of budget-friendly petrol and electric cars are proving immensely popular, with some 51,050 MG-branded motors registered in the UK last year. It’s most recent car – the MG4 – is cheapest family-size EV currently on sale and one of just two priced below £30,000.
8. NIO
NIO is a Chinese electric car maker that’s already selling vehicles in Norway – and has recently broken into the top 25 most popular brands there
Another Chinese car brand that is likely to arrive on the UK scene very shortly is NIO, which is already a major EV player in Norway.
It has said it will have three Tesla-rivalling models available in the UK in 2023, all of them available on subscription.
9. GWM Ora (Great Wall Motor)
The Ora Funky Cat is a compact electric hatchback already on sale in the UK. It is the first brand from the Great Wall Motor group to enter Britain
Great Wall Motor is one of the expanding automotive groups from China that is already selling cars in the UK – and its first model has a pretty special name.
It’s from its Ora brand and is called the Funky Cat. The compact electric hatchback costs from £31,995 and has already signed a dealership network deal with major players including Lookers and Peter Vardy.
10. Zeekr
The 001 is one of two electric models Chinese brand Zeekr is planning to bring to the European market in 2023
Zeekr – another brand that’s part of the Geely group – has said it will officially enter the European market in 2023, and the UK is very much on its radar.
It will offer the Zeekr X SUV and Zeekr OO1 shooting brake first.
ELECTRIC CAR VIDEOS
