A wave of Chinese entrants into Britain’s car market is piling pressure on traditional manufacturers, forcing them to offer deeper discounts to compete with lower-cost imports, the head of the country’s main automotive industry body said on Thursday.
Competition Heats Up
Chinese brands have rapidly expanded their presence in Britain in recent years, winning market share with competitively priced electric and plug-in hybrid models and intensifying competition for established automakers.
According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Chinese-owned brands now account for about 15% of UK new car registrations, led by SAIC Motor’s MG, BYD and Chery’s JAECOO and OMODA brands.
The increased competition is one of several factors behind the contraction in British vehicle manufacturing, which fell 7.5% in the first half of 2026 as trade uncertainty and lower investment also weighed on production.
Across Europe, automakers have been grappling with intensifying competition from Chinese rivals. Last week, Germany’s Volkswagen said it would deepen cost cuts to remain competitive against Chinese brands.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
