THE CHINESE CAR FIRMS COMING TO THE UK AND HOW THEY PLAN TO SELL CARS

China is quite comfortably the largest car market on the planet. In 2022, almost 27m new cars were sold there, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

It’s increasingly a market that Western car firms are designing vehicles for first and foremost. But Chinese car makers are now looking to do the opposite, and are setting their sights on Europe – some are even already here.

While the country’s carmakers got a bad reputation for building some copycat versions of popular vehicles a decade ago, Chinese automotive companies have progressed at an alarming rate.

Over the coming years there are a number of Chinese carmakers looking to arrive on UK shores.

Gwm Ora

You might remember Great Wall Motors (GWM) in the UK about a decade ago. It was the first Chinese car brand to ever sell vehicles in Britain with its Steed pick-up. An underwhelming choice, at best.

But GWM is now back in the UK, and selling models under its ‘Ora’ nameplate. Currently selling a single model – the curiously-named Funky Cat – this electric hatchback boasts a 193-mile range and a £31,995 starting price.

BYD

BYD, standing for Build Your Dreams, is likely a brand you’ve never heard of. But it is a major deal on a global level, producing more ‘Zero Emission Vehicles’ – including hybrid and electric cars – than any other firm.