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BYD Becomes UK’s Top Chinese Carmaker Amid EV Growth

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BusinessHonor - BYD Leads as UK’s Top Chinese Carmaker

Business Honor
07 October, 2025

BYD sold over 11,000 cars in the UK, due to rising EV demand and strong sales of its Seal U SUV.

The UK is recognized as BYD's largest market outside of China, the Chinese automaker said, after an 880% rise in sales over the previous year. Last month, the business sold 11,271 vehicles in the UK, with the Seal U plug-in hybrid SUV becoming the most popular choice. This increase matches with the UK's electric vehicle (EV) sales achieving a record high. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reports that sales of plug-in hybrid vehicles rose more quickly in the recent months than the fully electric vehicles, close to 73,000 units. EVs are growing in popularity, even though more than half of new sales were still vehicles powered by gasoline or diesel.

Recently BYD's market share in the UK auto industry was 3.6%. It is growing quickly and has opened its 100th store nationwide. More electric and hybrid models are expected to be launched soon, according to Bono Ge, manager of BYD UK. Brands like BYD find it more difficult to compete in the US and EU due to high tariffs imposed on Chinese electric vehicles, compared to the UK. In response to unfair government support in China, the EU has imposed import tariffs of up to 45% on Chinese EVs.

In an effort to increase EV purchases, the UK government has established a £650 million program that offers discounts of up to £3,750 for specific brands. BYD is unhappy with this program's rejection of Chinese-made automobiles because of production related pollution problems. Along with popular models like the Ford Puma and Kia Sportage, Chinese models like the BYD Seal U and Jaecoo 7 reached the UK's top 10 best-selling automobiles last month. The next generation of electric vehicles may come from China just as much as from standard automobile-making nations, and Chinese automakers like BYD are expected to have a greater influence on the future course of the worldwide automotive sector as EV sales continue to rise.