British drivers flock to Chinese electric vehicles with soaring sales despite devastating EU tariffs
BYD has seen its popularity grow massively in recent months
REUTERS
Chinese brands are more popular than ever in the UK and across Europe as sales of electric vehicles soar, despite hefty tariffs on Chinese-made products.
Research from Dataforce, which includes the UK, found that Chinese manufacturers secured a record 11 per cent of the European EV market last month.
This comes as European Union tariffs on imported electric cars are introduced, forcing the prices of these vehicles higher as the bloc looks to protect established brands.
It shows that 23,000 battery electric vehicles were registered in June, a huge jump of 72 per cent compared to the previous month as consumers look to avoid tariffs.
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BYD has been hit with the lowest rate of tariffs of any Chinese EV brand
REUTERSChinese brand SAIC, which is the parent company of popular British manufacturer MG, saw the biggest increase in sales, with more than 13,000 cars sold in June.
This is significantly more than the rival BYD, which already has a foothold in the UK market, has sold 2,904 vehicles in the UK so far this year, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
In total, the brand sold less than 4,000 electric vehicles across Europe in June, leading with its Dolphin and Seal models abroad.
However, their awareness has rocketed following their large-scale advertising campaign across the 2024 European Championships, helping to boost the status of BYD and other Chinese brands.
BYD could be seen emblazoned across advertising boards and hoardings throughout the tournament, with Auto Trader reporting that the brand saw a 69 per cent increase in engagements during the opening weekend of the Euros.
The online marketplace said demand for the vehicles has softened slightly since the final, although it remains 41 per cent higher compared to before the start of the tournament.
There are currently 201 BYD models available in the UK through Auto Trader, ranging from £22,999 for a Dolphin EV or £48,695 for a Seal with just 435 miles on the clock.
The BYD Atto 3 is also available for low prices, with one vehicle available in Grimsby for just £23,790 - cheaper than the majority of other electric vehicles available on the market.
BYD mostly managed to escape the wrath of the European Union's tariffs at just 17.4 per cent, with Geely - the Chinese owner of luxury EV brand Polestar - facing an additional 19.9 per cent charge.
Other electric vehicle producers in China that cooperated with the EU investigation will pay 20.8 per cent, while SAIC and other "non-cooperating companies" will face a 37.6 per cent duty.
The provisional duties have been in operation since July 5, 2024, for a maximum duration of four months, although they may be required to adhere to them following the trial period.
Rachael Jones, director of automotive finance at Auto Trader, said: "BYD and Ora account for about three per cent of all new EV stock listed on our site.
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BYD advertisements were seen throughout the Euros
PA
“But what's interesting is, relative to that share of stock (three per cent), they're actually generating eight per cent of engagement with adverts.
"People are looking at the adverts, looking at the models, reading about them, but they're not converting into leads as strongly as kind of more traditional brands that we all know."