Chinese-Brand EVs Hit 13.4% UK Share in H1 2026 — MG, BYD and Polestar Lead

Chinese-brand EVs kept gaining ground in the United Kingdom through the first half of 2026, despite tariff debates and intermittent pricing pressure. Combined H1 deliveries from MG, BYD, Polestar, GWM, NIO, XPeng and Zeekr reached an estimated 72,300 units — up +34% year-on-year and equivalent to roughly 13.4% of the UK’s 540,500-unit BEV market. That puts the UK third in Europe behind Germany and France, on a trajectory to overtake France by Q4.

MG and BYD Pull Away From the Pack

MG (SAIC) remains the runaway leader at 41,200 H1 units, more than double the second-placed Chinese brand. The MG4 hatchback and ZS EV continue to anchor volume, joined now by the Cyberster roadster and the IM5 saloon. MG’s structural edge is dealer reach: 180+ UK dealers (more than BYD, Polestar, GWM and Zeekr combined), aggressive PCP finance from £199/month for the MG4, and a small Longbridge body-shop reactivation announced in March 2026 that signals long-term local-manufacture intent.

BYD posted 18,500 units in H1 2026, up +127% YoY — the steepest curve in the segment. The Sealion 7 launch and the Atto 2 mid-cycle facelift filled out a six-model UK lineup (Atto 3, Atto 2, Sealion 7, Seal U DM-i, Dolphin, Han L EV), and BYD now operates 54 UK dealers with another 23 expected by year-end. PCP rates 1-2 percentage points below the market average, plus a 7-year/100,000-mile battery warranty, anchor the retail pitch. The UK launch of the BYD Shark 6 pickup is planned for Q4 2026.

Polestar Cools, NIO and Zeekr Make UK Debuts

Polestar’s 6,800 units (+4% YoY) is the slowest growth among major Chinese brands; the ageing Polestar 2 and the divisive no-rear-window Polestar 4 have both lost share to cheaper alternatives, leaving the upcoming Polestar 7 small SUV as the brand’s pivotal late-2026 release. Below them: GWM’s Ora and Tank brands at 2,400 units, XPeng’s G6/G9 SUV duo at 1,650 units, NIO’s UK-launch volume of 1,150 units led by the ET5 Touring and Onvo L60, and Zeekr’s first 600 UK units (mostly Zeekr X) from a March 2026 launch.

Tariff Outlook Still Favours Chinese Brands

The UK has not yet adopted CBAM-equivalent EV tariffs, and a March 2026 consultation suggests any UK measure will be capped near 15% — well below the EU’s brand-specific countervailing duties of 17% (BYD) to 36.3% (SAIC). That keeps Chinese-brand EVs cost-competitive against domestic and Japanese rivals. iEVChina’s full UK H1 2026 review publishes the brand-by-brand breakdown plus dealer-network numbers.

Source: SMMT registrations + brand-confirmed deliveries / iEVChina analysis