UK Car Dealers Predict Xpeng, Omoda, and BYD to Make Biggest Impact on British Roads, Study Shows

The Chinese automotive market has been making waves in the UK, with car dealers backing Xpeng, Omoda, and BYD to be the brands that will have the biggest impact on British roads. A recent study conducted by Startline’s Used Car Tracker for June revealed that 36% of automotive retailers believe Xpeng is the most likely of the new brands to succeed, despite the fact that it has yet to launch in the UK.

Omoda, on the other hand, has already made an impression on dealers in the UK, with 34% of them believing that the brand has the best chance of success. The brand has ambitious plans for 100 dealers and 10,000 sales in the UK by the end of 2024, showing its commitment to the market.

BYD was also named as a brand to watch, with 31% of retailers mentioning it as a brand with potential. The brand is investing heavily across Europe and has a sizeable UK dealer network, with hopes that a major sponsorship of this summer’s Uefa European Championships will boost brand awareness.

Other brands such as Lynk & Co, Nio, Jaecoo, GWM Ora, Zeekr, and HiPhi were also featured in the list, showing the diversity of Chinese brands entering the UK market.

The poll, conducted by APD Global Research for Startline Motor Finance, surveyed the views of close to 60 dealers across the country. The results show that dealers are starting to build a picture of which Chinese brands they believe are the most credible and have the potential to succeed in the UK market.

Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, commented on the findings, noting that the top three brands in the survey are adopting a traditional franchise model for their sales and support networks. He also highlighted the competitive nature of the Chinese EV market, with only a few companies expected to survive until the end of the decade.

Overall, the study shows that Chinese brands are making a significant impact on the UK automotive market, with dealers backing Xpeng, Omoda, and BYD to be the brands that will lead the way in the coming years. It will be interesting to see how these brands fare in the competitive market and whether they can maintain a presence in the UK over time.