These are the latest car brands to arrive in the UK
In the last 12 months, the UK’s new car market has seen a flood of Chinese brands arrive on our shores.
With their extensive range of petrol, hybrid and electric SUVs, European, Korean and Japanese car makers are now in danger of being overshadowed by the Chinese firms’ battery technology and driving dynamics.
So, if you’re in the market for a new car, but want to go down the alternative route with one of these Chinese offerings, what makes and models do you have in this rapidly growing sector of the market?
We’ve compiled a list of all of the latest Chinese car brands that have entered the UK’s car market in the last 12 months.
Changan
The latest Chinese firm is Changan, and although you may never have heard of them, they are one of China’s largest car manufacturers from the Changan Automotive Group.
It is just about to launch its first model here in the UK, with the Deepal S07 electric SUV, which is rivalling the likes of the Tesla Model Y and Kia EV3.
It features an 80kWh battery and an electric motor that gives a claimed 295 miles between trips to the plug and is compatible with 93kW DC rapid-charging speeds, allowing for a 10 to 80 per cent top-up to take under 50 minutes.
Chery
Chery is one of the newest additions to the UK new car market fleet and is one of China’s largest automobile makers.
It has just launched the Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8 SUVs, which are both petrol or plug-in hybrid family wagons.
The Tiggo 7 is a five-seater SUV that rivals the Skoda Karoq and MG HS, while the larger Tiggo 8 is a seven-seater SUV and is taking on the Kia Sorento and Peugeot 5008.
Omoda
You will have never seen an Omoda-badged vehicle in China, and that’s because it’s owned by Chery and is part of the brand’s ‘export strategy’ programme to bring the firm’s sportier offerings as a sub-brand to Europe.
It currently sells three models here in the UK, with the 5, E5 and 9.
The 5 is a petrol-powered coupe-esque SUV that rivals the likes of the Kia Sportage and is equipped with a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine.
The E5 is the electric version of the 5 and rivals cars such as the Volkswagen ID.3 and Hyundai Kona Electric and features a 61kWh battery and an electric motor to give a claimed range of up to 257 miles.
The 9 is the latest addition to the Omoda family and is a premium plug-in hybrid SUV that is built to take on the Toyota RAV4 and Skoda Kodiaq.
Jaecoo
Jaecoo is another car maker that is owned by Chery, and is the premium sister brand of Omoda.
That might sound confusing, but Omoda is the sportier sub-brand of Chery, while Jaecoo is the more premium offering.
It currently sells the 7 SUV and is just about to launch the smaller 5 and E5 SUVs.
The 7 rivals the likes of the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage and is available with petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
The 5 is the smaller offering and is more Ford Puma-sized and is available with petrol or as an EV with the E5, which comes equipped with a 61.1kWh battery and an electric motor to give a claimed range of up to 248 miles between trips to the plug.
Skywell
Skywell was established in 2000 by the Nanjing Golden Dragon Bus company and started selling cars in China in 2017.
However, last year, Skywell set up shop here in the UK and brought over the BE11 electric SUV, which is a five-seater midsized vehicle taking on the Renault Scenic E-Tech and Skoda Enyaq.
There is a choice of two battery options with the 72kWh unit offering a claimed range of 248 miles and the larger 86kWh ‘Long Range’ model managing a claimed 304 miles on a single charge.
Leapmotor
Leapmotor is jointly owned by the European giant, Stellantis, having a 51 and 49 per cent shareholding.
Leapmotor launched in the UK last year with two EVs, which are the T03 electric city car and the C10 electric SUV.
The T03 is Britain’s second-cheapest new EV on the market, and rivals the Dacia Spring. It comes equipped with a 37.3kWh battery with an electric motor that can manage a claimed 140 miles on a single charge.
The C10 is a midsize SUV and rivals the Ford Explorer and Peugeot E-3008. It comes equipped with a 69.9kWh battery with an electric motor to provide a claimed range of up to 263 miles.
Xpeng
A relatively new and unheard of brand here in the UK is Xpeng, which specialises in electric SUVs.
Its current and only offering is the G6 coupe-styled electric SUV, which has similar design cues to its main rival, the Tesla Model Y.
It comes fitted with a choice of a smaller 66kWh battery with an electric motor and gives a claimed range of 270 miles, and there is a larger 87.5kWh unit with an electric motor that can manage a claimed 354 miles on a single charge.
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