BYD Takes Off in UK as EV Sales Surge by 880%
Chinese electric carmaker BYD is making waves in the UK, becoming the country's top-selling Chinese EV brand — and doing it without a penny of UK government subsidies.
The company sold a staggering 11,271 vehicles in September, up from just 1,150 a year earlier — a near 10-fold jump. That figure puts BYD second only to Tesla for electric vehicle sales in the UK last month, and well ahead of some legacy car brands. According to BYD, the UK is now its biggest market outside China, accounting for over 35,000 car sales so far this year. The Seal U plug-in hybrid was a major contributor to this success, dominating the company's UK sales alongside the all-electric Sealion 7 SUV.
Despite its rapid growth, BYD was excluded from a £650 million UK government scheme introduced in July aimed at boosting EV adoption. The grant offers up to £3,750 off per vehicle — but only for models not made in China. Officials said the decision was based on the carbon emissions tied to Chinese vehicle manufacturing.
BYD didn’t hold back on its reaction. The company called the subsidy plan “stupid”, comparing the discounts to a “drug” that could harm the UK’s car market long-term. Still, UK EV sales soared to nearly 73,000 in September — a new monthly record — with battery-powered cars now making up 22% of all new car registrations for 2025.
BYD’s UK manager Bono Ge said the company has big plans for expansion, calling the brand’s future in Britain “hugely exciting.” He added, “We want to see steady growth and... we want people to see we are a technology company.” BYD plans to roll out its ultrafast charging tech in the UK next year and recently opened its 100th UK retail outlet.
Industry observers say BYD's success is helped by competitive pricing. The Dolphin, one of its popular models, starts at just over £26,000 — a much more affordable option compared to Tesla’s Model 3, which costs around £40,000. That pricing strategy has made Chinese EVs increasingly attractive to UK buyers, especially as tariffs and restrictions limit their access to markets like the EU and US.
Elsewhere in Europe, BYD’s growth is just as aggressive. Its sales were up over 200% year-on-year in August, while Tesla’s fell by more than a third, according to European industry data. But back home in China, BYD hit a bump — posting its first drop in monthly sales in more than a year, with sales dropping 5.5% in September.
Back in the UK, the local auto industry is still facing challenges. Jaguar Land Rover suffered a major production halt due to a cyberattack and has secured a government loan guarantee of up to £1.5 billion. Nissan is shrinking its global operations, and BMW delayed a £600 million investment in its Oxford Mini plant, laying off workers in the process.
Meanwhile, BYD isn’t the only Chinese automaker making strides. Chery's Jaecoo 7 SUV cracked the UK’s top 10 best-sellers list in September.
As BYD continues to outpace rivals like Tesla, Jaguar, and BMW in UK and global sales, one thing is clear — the rise of Chinese EVs in the UK is just getting started, with or without government support.
