The cheap Chinese cars about to flood the UK market – but are they worth it?
The Sealion, Seagull and Dolphin. No, this is not the title of an unpublished children's book. This selection of aquatic creatures is a range of car models poised to surge in sales this year.
Manufactured by Build Your Dreams (BYD), the cars are part of the Chinese influx flooding the UK's electric vehicle market.
Omoda, Aiways, Nio, Seres, Haval, XPeng and Zeekr are among the other lesser-known names planning to launch or increase their presence in the UK.
As the rollout of new names continues, Auto Trader predicts Chinese-branded models could account for up to 25pc of Britain's electric fleet by 2030.
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But are they worth it? Telegraph Money delves into whether 2025 is the year to buy a Chinese electric vehicle (EV).
Are Chinese electric cars cheap?
Chinese EVs are notoriously cheap. Figures from Auto Trader show that new Chinese entrants have helped boost the number of sub-£30,000 EV options in UK showrooms – going from a lowly nine last year, to 29 at the turn of 2025.
That's not to say, however, that price tags in Britain are as affordable as they can be.
Many RRP prices are much lower in China – for example, the list price of BYD Dolphin can be as much as £10,000 less than it is listed for in the UK.
Ginny Buckley, of Electrifying.com – a site specialising in EV and hybrid vehicles, said: 'Chinese cars are almost always cheaper than European models, although there are some exceptions.
'For example, the Ora 03 was considered expensive and has had very slow sales. In response, £6,000 has now been knocked off its list price to bring it in line with the market.'
Due to the zero-emission mandate, European manufacturers have been forced to offer heavy discounts, meaning 'their models are often just as affordable – if not cheaper – than the Chinese alternatives', said Ms Buckley.
Will prices reduce in 2025?
The UK remains the only Western country not imposing tariffs on Chinese-made cars, allowing list prices to remain highly competitive. But there's no guarantee it will stay that way.
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