(Yicai) July 15 — China’s new energy vehicle brands are quickly gaining influence and popularity in the United Kingdom, as the European country’s NEV penetration rate continues to rise.

BYD debuted its Denza Z and launched sales in the UK and other European markets at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed, which ran from July 9 to 12. The Chinese NEV giant’s booth at the annual automotive festival was among the most crowded, and its vehicles were constantly surrounded by customers, media professionals, and industry insiders.

Several UK customers canceled their McLaren and Ferrari orders during the Goodwood Festival of Speed to instead buy the Denza Z Racing edition, Bono Ge, general manager of BYD UK, told Yicai.

SAIC Motor’s electric vehicle brand MG, which was founded in the UK in 1924 and acquired by the Chinese auto giant in 2007, also had a booth at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

A UK auto industry insider told Yicai he purchased a BYD last year. “Chinese EVs are excellent, and I will stick to Chinese brands when I replace my car next time,” he noted, adding that MG, BYD, and Chery Automobile’s EV marque Jaecoo are the three most widely accepted Chinese vehicle brands among UK consumers.

In the first half of the year, MG sold 48,741 NEVs in the UK, up over 14 percent from a year earlier, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Sales of BYD and Jaecoo surged 95 percent to 37,795 units and 306 percent to 234,067 units, respectively.

The Jaecoo 7 and the MG HS were among the UK’s best-selling vehicle models in the six months ended June 30, ranking third and seventh, respectively, with sales of 23,840 and 16,721 units.

Among other Chinese NEV brands, Geely Automobile reached sales of 6,497 units in the UK in the first half, compared with zero sales in the same period last year. Leapmotor sold 6,770 units, up over 1,149 percent in the period. Xpeng Group’s sales surged 365 percent to 767 vehicles.

The UK market stands out for its openness and clear electrification timetable, Ge said, adding that even though policies may undergo adjustments, the general direction remains unambiguous. With the overall competitiveness of Chinese brands continuously improving, “we are confident of securing a leading position in this open market landscape.”

The UK’s shift to EVs is irreversible, with more and more consumers now considering buying electric cars, a local car dealer told Yicai. The arrival of Tesla, alongside Chinese automotive brands, has greatly expanded options for UK buyers, he added.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Futura Costaglione

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