British drivers are increasingly making the transition to Chinese vehicles as a growing number of brands offer affordable and technologically advanced models.
New data shows that consumer confidence in Chinese-made vehicles is at an all-time high, with two in five motorists considering a Chinese car for their next choice.
This is almost double the number of drivers who said the same earlier this year, as the amount of Chinese brands on the UK market grows at pace.
Given the growth in popularity of Chinese cars, experts have noted that this could also translate to more electric vehicles being purchased.
According to the latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), 99,740 vehicles sold between January and May were produced by a Chinese brand.
This is more than one-tenth of the total 924,763 cars sold in the UK so far this year, with Chinese brands quickly becoming popular with drivers.
This includes newcomer Aion, BYD, Changan, Chery, Geely, GWM, Jaecoo, Leapmotor, Omoda, Skywell and Xpeng.
Some of the largest brands, including BYD, Jaecoo and Omoda, are already outselling major manufacturers that have been established for decades in the UK.
UK drivers are becoming increasingly more interested in Chinese cars
|BYD/JAECOO
John Cassidy, managing director of Close Brothers Motor Finance, said: "Chinese vehicle manufacturers are becoming an increasingly important part of the UK automotive market, particularly as demand for electric vehicles continues to grow.
"Our research suggests motorists are becoming more comfortable with the idea of buying a Chinese-made car, driven in part by the affordability and accessibility of many of the electric models now available."
Despite becoming more popular, some drivers continue to have reservations about investing in a Chinese car due to a range of concerns.
A quarter of motorists said they would prefer to wait until Chinese manufacturers have established a longer track record in the UK before investing.
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BYD remains the most popular Chinese car brand in the UK, narrowly beating out Jaecoo
| BYDOther concerns, including spare parts, reliability and build quality, have become less prominent in recent months.
A surprising 36 per cent of people said they were unfamiliar with Chinese brands, despite an aggressive strategy of opening sales locations across the UK and advertising on popular
Mr Cassidy acknowledged that concerns around reliability and unfamiliarity remain, but data shows that confidence in Chinese cars is growing.
He added: "Greater acceptance of these brands is likely to encourage more new Chinese vehicles onto UK roads, which over time will help boost supply in the used car market and give motorists even more choice.
The Lepas L8 has been confirmed for the UK market in Q3 later this year | LEPAS"For dealers, this presents an opportunity to support drivers looking for a more affordable route into EV ownership, particularly as a wider range of finance options help make these vehicles even more accessible."
Other Chinese brands are set to enter the market later this year, including Lepas, which announced that it would showcase its premium L8 SUV at the Goodwood Festival of Speed for the first time.
Lepas, which is owned by Chinese manufacturing giant Chery, will release the L8 this summer, before releasing the mid-size L6 and city-friendly L4.
BYD will also begin selling its premium Denza brand in the UK later this year, alongside its ultra-rapid Flash Chargers.