Check out the latest issue of Motor Trader in print and online which takes a close and pragmatic look at new Chinese brands already in the market and those set to make an impact in 2026.
In ‘The big push’ we ask the key questions of already established players (BYD, MG); those that made a big impact in 2025 (Jaecoo, Omoda, Chery and Leapmotor) and finally, those aiming to get serious in 2026 (Aion, Changan, Geely and more).
For 2026 there are some big numbers doing the rounds. Geely (with one model and a limited sales period) sold just under 500 cars in 2025: Its sales aspiration for 2026 are 20,000 units.
Stellantis’s Chinese partner brand Leapmotor is also ambitious. It had 71 dealers in place at the end of last year and 100-plus planned by the end of 2026. It expects sales to grow “very significantly” this year.
Also, on the Chinese theme we have Steve Young of ICDP saying no one can really be surprised at the progress Chinese made EVs are making and estimates that in some open markets Chinese brand share will grow to 20%.
And data from Jato Dynamics produced for Motor Trader shows just how Chinese brands have pushed into the UK compared to other European countries.
And finally, BYD has made a big impact in the UK since its launch. It attracted a lot of the big dealer groups.
We catch up with Franco Santoro, managing director of Chariots Specialists Cars and BYD Kettering. In January Cantoro made his way to Telford to attend the inaugural BYD Retailer Awards. He came away with the top accolade for a single retailer, UK Retailer of the Year 2026.
The award was presented to Chariots by Bono Ge, country manager of BYD UK and Steve Beattie, deputy country manager. To take a top award is always a great achievement but what made it even more notable was that Santoro, heading an independent used car business, won the accolade in his first year with the brand.
Elsewhere in the issue we have coverage of the Motor Trader Leaders Brunch, which was held for the first time in 2026 and proved popular with the dealers who attended, picking up new ideas to make this year a better one for business.
We also have an interview with Chris Clark, MD of John Clark motor group who has been busy expanding the business, buying Hawco Group and its dealerships in Inverness, Elgin and Peterhead.
And Mike Allen, an investment specialist, zoomed in on the key AI technologies in the US at the NADA dealer show.
