Chinese EVs Hit Record UK Sales in July, Three Models Crack Top 10

On August 6, data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed that new car registrations in the UK reached 156,571 units in July, up 11.7% year-on-year—the highest level for the month since 2019—and marking the eighth consecutive month of growth. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) saw sales surge by 44.5% year-on-year, capturing a record-high market share of 27.5%. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sales rose by 33.6%, accounting for 14.9% of the market, while hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) sales increased by 11.6%, representing 13.2% of total sales. Three of the top ten best-selling models in July were from Chinese automakers: Chery’s JAECOO 7 and JAECOO 5, and SAIC’s MG HS, which together sold 7,893 units, accounting for over 5% of the overall market share. In May 2026, five Chinese automakers—BYD, SAIC, Geely, Chery, and Leapmotor—sold a combined total of 138,410 vehicles across 31 European countries, a 65% year-on-year increase, surpassing Japanese brands’ monthly sales of 130,400 units (which declined by 3% year-on-year) for the first time. By June 2026, the sales lead of Chinese automakers over Japanese brands widened from approximately 8,000 units to around 13,000 units. In the first half of 2026, sales of Chinese new energy vehicles (NEVs) in the UK reached 183,000 units, more than doubling (+110% year-on-year) and lifting their market share to 16.1%. During the same period, the MG brand recorded cumulative sales exceeding 190,000 units in Europe, up over 20% year-on-year. BYD’s cumulative overseas passenger vehicle sales from January to June 2026 totaled 789,367 units, a 70% increase compared to the same period last year.