Chinese brands to sell 30% of new cars in the UK within five years

Most franchised car dealers expect Chinese brands to secure a significant share of the UK’s new car market within the next five years, according to research by online marketplace carwow.

In July, carwow's dealer partners were asked what proportion of UK car sales they thought Chinese OEMs will take over the next 12 months with the majority (68%) estimating up to 10% with a further 25% saying that share is likely to be 11-20%. Only 13% thought Chinese brands won't be successful in the UK.

Regarding longer-term prospects, a third (33%) predicted Chinese OEMs would secure 21-30% of UK new car sales within five years, while almost one-third (32%) said they would claim between 11-20%, and a further fifth (21%) said up to 10%.