Chinese car brands' UK market share nearly triples to 15.8%, AA data shows
AA research finds Chinese brands took 15.8% of UK new vehicle sales in August 2026, up from 5.5% a year earlier, even as its survey of AA members shows many drivers remain wary of buying Chinese-made cars.
Chinese vehicle brands captured 15.8% of UK new vehicle sales in August 2026, almost three times their 5.5% share in August 2025, according to the AA's latest EV Readiness Index, as reported by Transport+Energy.
The rise in sales sits alongside caution among drivers about Chinese-made cars. AA research based on 10,594 responses from AA members found more than a quarter of drivers would consider buying a Chinese-made car, while 42% would not, including 16% who say they would never buy one.
Attitudes vary sharply by age: 40% of 18–24-year-olds would consider buying a Chinese car, compared with 22% of 65–74-year-olds, the AA found.
The AA's figures come from its wider Q3 2026 report, which also tracked rising petrol prices and the shifting cost gap between electric and petrol motoring. Petrol prices rose to 161.5p per litre in the quarter, up from 159.6p at the end of May and 132.5p in February, the AA said.
With petrol at that level, the AA said home charging remained 66% cheaper per mile than petrol, while ultra-rapid public charging stayed around 15% more expensive per mile than petrol.
On purchase prices, the AA said new EVs were on average 25% more expensive than comparable petrol cars, improving slightly from a 26% gap in Q2. In the used market, the gap had almost disappeared, with used EVs averaging just 1% more than petrol equivalents, down from 3%.
The AA also reported that 88.1% of EV breakdown callouts were fixed at the roadside by its patrols, compared with 83.5% for petrol vehicles.
Sources
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