Updated September 2026
Chinese car brands have gone from a curiosity to a genuine fixture of the UK market in just a few years, and that shift is starting to show up on the used market too. Here's what's actually available, how reliable they actually are, and what to check before buying one secondhand.
Given how quickly this market is moving, particularly on dealer network size, treat the figures below as a snapshot rather than fixed, and check the latest position for any specific brand before relying on it.
Summary:
- Over 45,000 Chinese-brand EVs are already on the UK used market, averaging around £28,500, considerably less than an equivalent European EV.
- Warranty cover is genuinely strong on paper, 7 to 8 years across most brands, though it's worth checking transferability and dealer network size, not just the headline length.
- Reliability results are genuinely mixed rather than uniformly good or bad. MG ranked last of 30 manufacturers in a recent owner satisfaction survey, while BYD posted a sharp rise from the same position the year before.
- Depreciation runs steeper than mainstream rivals, 35-50% over three years against 25-35% for a comparable European EV, which cuts both ways for a used buyer.
- Dealer network size varies considerably by brand, worth checking before buying, since a long warranty means less if servicing means a long drive.
Chinese Car Brands in the UK: The Full List
Already Selling in the UK Right Now
MG is the name most UK drivers already know, a British-origin marque dating back to 1924, now owned by Chinese automotive giant SAIC. It's the most established of the Chinese-owned brands here by a clear margin, with the widest dealer network and the deepest used stock already available.
BYD is an independent Chinese manufacturer and one of the world's largest electric vehicle makers. Its UK market share has risen from 1.6% in early 2025 to 3.47% a year later.
Its dealer network has expanded particularly quickly, growing from just 5 sites at its March 2023 UK launch to more than 140 by mid-2026, alongside passing 100,000 UK registrations, with a growing range spanning hatchbacks, saloons and SUVs.
GWM sells in the UK under two names. Ora offers a single, quirky electric hatchback with 1950s-inspired styling, on sale since late 2022 but yet to find a strong UK foothold. Haval, GWM's other UK brand, sells the Jolion Pro hybrid SUV, priced from around £24,000, though early reviews have been mixed.
Omoda, part of the Chery Group, has scaled quickly since its recent UK arrival, offering the well-equipped Omoda 5 SUV and an electric Omoda E5, backed by a notable RAC partnership providing free roadside assistance for up to seven years.
Jaecoo, Omoda's sister brand under the same Chery Group, shares much of its underlying engineering but wraps it in more distinctive, Range Rover-influenced styling with the Jaecoo 7, earning reasonably strong early reviews for value and build quality.
Chery, the parent brand behind both Omoda and Jaecoo, also sells under its own name in the UK, offering the Tiggo 4, 7, 8 and 9 SUVs, typically priced below equivalent established rivals.
Leapmotor takes a different route to market entirely, selling and servicing through Stellantis's existing UK network rather than building its own from scratch. Its electric range includes the B10, the larger C10, and the T03 city car, with prices starting from around £16,000.
Geely, the parent company behind Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and Smart, has begun selling cars under its own name too, led by the electric EX5 SUV and the plug-in hybrid Starray, both priced competitively against established rivals in their class.
Deepal, owned by Changan, a manufacturer with roots back to 1959, entered the UK with the S07 electric SUV and has since added the smaller, more competitively priced S05.
XPeng, another Chinese EV specialist, entered the UK with the G6 SUV, notable for genuinely rapid charging technology, and plans further models in the years ahead.
Skywell, part of the Skyworth group, has technically launched in the UK too, with its BE11 electric SUV, though in very small numbers and with mixed reviews so far.
Denza, a premium offshoot of BYD, officially launched in the UK at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July 2026, leading with the striking Denza Z roadster alongside the Z9GT, and aiming at established luxury rivals like Mercedes, BMW and Porsche.
Maxus, owned by SAIC alongside MG, mainly sells commercial vehicles in the UK, including the T90, the UK's first electric pickup, alongside the Mifa 7 and Mifa 9 people carriers.
Farizon, part of Geely, sells two electric van models in the UK, the larger SV and the smaller, more affordable V7E, giving fleets and tradespeople another commercial option alongside established rivals.
Still Arriving in the UK
A genuinely large number of names haven't launched here yet, worth knowing about even though none are available secondhand. Yangwang, BYD's flagship ultra-premium brand, is following Denza into the UK in 2026, showcased alongside it at Goodwood, with the U8 SUV expected as its likely launch model, a powerful plug-in hybrid aimed at rivals like Bentley, alongside the electric U9 supercar.
Aion, from Chinese giant GAC, has signed a UK distribution agreement rather than launched actively yet, expected to bring electric SUV and hatchback models distinguished by an 8-year warranty bundle covering servicing, breakdown cover and MOTs, tied to the car itself rather than just its first owner.
Lepas, part of the Chery Group, plans to bring its largest model first, the L8, promising a genuinely long claimed range, followed later by smaller siblings.
iCaur, another Chery Group brand, is focused on electrified off-roaders and has no confirmed UK launch date yet, though one is expected before long.
Freelander is a genuinely distinct new brand born from a joint venture between Jaguar Land Rover and Chery, designed in the UK, expected to begin UK sales in 2027.
Voyah, owned by Dongfeng, is set to reach Europe through an agreement with Stellantis, positioned as a premium brand sitting between Stellantis's mainstream and luxury offerings.
MG IM, a distinct sub-brand from MG's parent SAIC, unveiled its first UK-bound models, the IM5 saloon and IM6 SUV, with the IM5 offering a genuinely long claimed range and rapid charging.
Zeekr, owned by Geely, is well established elsewhere in Europe and has confirmed a UK launch towards the end of 2026, with first customer deliveries expected by early 2027, bringing a genuinely striking luxury seven-seat plug-in hybrid SUV among its early models.
Xiaomi, primarily known as a smartphone manufacturer, has branched into fast, powerful electric cars in China and has plans to reach Europe, though it's not yet confirmed whether the UK is included.
Poer, a pickup truck brand from GWM, is expected to launch in the UK with a diesel, four-wheel-drive pickup aimed at established rivals on price.
Nio and its smaller sibling brand Firefly are expected to arrive once supporting infrastructure is in place, built around Nio's distinctive battery-swapping technology rather than conventional charging.
How Big Is the Used Market for Chinese Cars Already?
Bigger than most buyers assume. Over 45,000 Chinese-brand electric cars are already available secondhand in the UK, at an average price of roughly £28,500, against around £42,000 for a comparable European EV.
That price gap makes them a genuinely attractive used option on paper, though it's worth understanding why the gap exists before assuming it's pure bargain. Steeper depreciation is a real part of the story, not just a lower starting price.
Are Chinese Cars Actually Reliable?
Genuinely mixed, and worth taking seriously rather than dismissed either as universally unreliable or blindly praised. In a recent Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, MG placed 29th out of 30 manufacturers, driven largely by complaints about its infotainment system specifically rather than mechanical issues.
BYD told a different story, ranking 16th of 30, a sharp rise from last place the year before, suggesting genuine, measurable improvement rather than a stable position either way. The pattern across the wider Chinese brand landscape is inconsistency between manufacturers rather than a single verdict applying to all of them, which matters more for a used buyer than a blanket brand reputation might suggest.
What About Warranty Cover on a Used Chinese Car?
Strong on paper across most brands. Omoda, Jaecoo and MG offer 7 years or 100,000 miles, BYD, Leapmotor and XPeng typically match or slightly beat that, and GAC's Aion brand bundles servicing, breakdown cover and MOTs into an 8-year package tied to the car rather than the first owner specifically.
One genuine caveat worth understanding: there's no single global Chinese-brand warranty. Terms are set separately for the UK market and can shift between models and years, so always check the specific warranty attached to the exact car you're looking at rather than assuming a brand-wide figure applies universally.
Are Chinese Cars Worth Buying Used?
Yes, a used Chinese car can make genuine sense, provided you choose the brand and specific model carefully rather than treating "Chinese car" as a single category. The biggest advantages are equipment levels, purchase price, and remaining warranty length. The biggest uncertainties are long-term reliability data that's still relatively thin compared to established brands, steeper depreciation, and dealer network size varying considerably between manufacturers.
Chinese Car Brands Worth Considering Used
| Brand | Why Consider It | Main Concern |
|---|---|---|
| MG | Established UK presence, widest used stock available | Reliability and infotainment complaints |
| BYD | Strong EV technology, rapidly expanding dealer network | Depreciation and long-term resale value |
| Omoda | Generous equipment, long warranty | Young UK network with limited history |
| Jaecoo | Genuine value, long warranty | Limited long-term reliability data |
| GWM | Hybrid and EV options available | Smaller, less established network |
What Should You Check Before Buying a Used Chinese Car?
Dealer network size matters more here than it does with an established European or Japanese brand, since a seven-year warranty means considerably less if your nearest approved service centre is a long drive away. Check how many UK dealers a brand actually has before assuming servicing will be convenient.
Confirm the remaining warranty transfers to you as a second or later owner, since this varies by brand and isn't always automatic. For the full picture on verifying any used car's condition and history before buying, see our guide on how to check a used car's history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Chinese cars reliable? It genuinely depends on the brand. MG has ranked poorly in recent owner satisfaction surveys, largely over infotainment complaints, while BYD has shown a sharp, measurable improvement year on year.
Is it worth buying a used Chinese EV instead of a European one? The price gap is genuine and significant, though steeper depreciation is part of why. Weigh the lower purchase price against dealer network size and warranty transferability for the specific brand you're considering.
Do Chinese car warranties transfer to a second owner? It varies by brand and isn't always automatic, so confirm this directly for the specific car rather than assuming a headline warranty length applies regardless of ownership history.
Which Chinese brand has the biggest UK dealer network? MG, by a clear margin, given its long-established UK presence. BYD has grown remarkably quickly too, expanding to more than 140 UK retail sites by mid-2026, up from just 5 at its 2023 launch.
Browse our full range of used cars at Car Planet, with clear documentation and honest condition reports on every vehicle we sell.
