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> The jury's still out on cars I don't know if it's just anecdotal, but I see a LOT of Chinese EVs in the England lately. Obviously nobody is buying them based

> The jury's still out on cars I don't know if it's just anecdotal, but I see a LOT of Chinese EVs in the England lately. Obviously nobody is buying them based on brand recognition or any sort of quality belief, brands nobody has heard of until now can only be on our streets in the numbers I'm seeing because they're significantly cheaper than buying something from a known auto manufacturer. The one exception I'd say in the UK are MG EVs, which for some unknown reason some of my fellow Brits have some sort of affinity to as a brand. I wouldn't dream of buying a JAECOO or BYD and everything I've seen online about their EVs absolutely suggest some at least morally dubious tactics, not to say the likely of VW haven't also had their hands slapped, but let's see how their fair mid term. Side note: Recently got a DJI drone, have had some of their other camera related non-drone stuff, the thing is absolutely nuts for the price, DJI really are unrivalled.

torginus 1y ago
I dug around the internet, trying to find some sales stats. This list is for EVs: https://www.vehiclecontracts.co.uk/blog/best-selling-electric-cars-in-2025/ https://www.vehiclecontracts.co.uk/blog/best-selling-electri... This is for gas cars: https://www.parkers.co.uk/car-news/bestselling-cars/ https://www.parkers.co.uk/car-news/bestselling-cars/ Both lists have single MG vehicle, so they aren't doing terribly, but based on this, it's hard to conclude they're going to conquer the market. And this is with the UK, which has no tariffs on Chinese EVs. My prediction is that MG is going to fall off the next couple years, considering their reliability has been terrible, according to stats. Even if they fix the issues, they're going to get a reputation and it's a long way back from that.
- SideburnsOfDoom 1y ago
  And my prediction is that in the UK EV market, MG and Volvo are the thin edge of the wedge of Chinese cars. BYD are on the roads now, and Omoda, soon to be followed by Zeekr, XPeng, Nio and Xiaomi. How well MG does specifically is irrelevant to all that, but your suggestion seems wishful - they have several new models out this year. Tesla's brand reputation is in a ditch, and the big EU brands are struggling to keep up.
  - alias_neo 1y ago
    I've also seen a lot of JAECOO vehicles which look like a rip off of Range Rover's styling.
    - SideburnsOfDoom 1y ago
      I think JAECOO are part of the same group as Omoda / Chery. I have no idea if I should have listed it separately or not.
      - alias_neo 1y ago
        Oh interesting, I had no idea. I've really not looked too much into Chinese EVs beyond some YouTube channels talking about some of their sketchy tactics to incentivise "influencers" and presumably subsidies to get to the kinds of prices they're selling at in the UK. I wouldn't consider buying any of them so all I really know is what I see on the streets.
- alias_neo 1y ago
  Infrastructure is still lacking in the UK, and not everyone has the possibility of charging at home, but the Chinese EVs are the only ones not reaching into luxury vehicle price territory (and the associated costs) in the UK. If the pace of EV sales picks up (and I'm not convinced it will soon), it's hard to see Chinese EVs at the prices they are, not becoming extremely popular. What could turn it around, is, as you say, terrible reliability records, but even then, that didn't seem to stop people buying ICE cars, so I'm not sure how much of an effect it'll have here either. I guess we'll have to wait and see.
  - SideburnsOfDoom 1y ago
    > Chinese EVs are the only ones not reaching into luxury vehicle price territory (and the associated costs) in the UK. I didn't mention Polestar until now, as they don't sell in volume, although I do see some of their vehicles on the roads. But they do fit this bracket of "(mostly) Chinese EVs, in the luxury vehicle territory". Arguably also Volvo. Or even top models from Zeekr and Xiaomi. If you're talking impractically high-end cars, look out for MG Cyberster, BYD Yangwang U9.
    - alias_neo 1y ago
      I guess they're covering every segment. I've not seen any of those higher end models myself, I'd be curious to know what kind of numbers they're selling in here versus, let's say, European high-end EVs. I didn't mention Polestar myself either as I'm undecided whether they fit into the "Chinese brands" category; they are Chinese now but I wonder what if any influence Volvo still has on them and if so, what effect that might have on their quality and reliability; perhaps it's "none", but I see Polestar as a brand that would be a more likely purchase because of its Volvo heritage. I've never seen a Zeekr or Xiaomi vehicle here in the UK, not sure if they're on sale here (yet).
      - SideburnsOfDoom 1y ago
        > I've never seen a Zeekr or Xiaomi vehicle here in the UK, not sure if they're on sale here (yet). I don't think Zeekr or Xiaomi are on sale in the UK. Yet. But they will be.
RUnconcerned 1y ago
> The one exception I'd say in the UK are MG EVs, which for some unknown reason some of my fellow Brits have some sort of affinity to as a brand. I have news for you about MG, it's been a Chinese company for almost 20 years now.
- alias_neo 1y ago
  That's the implication I was making; I know they're Chinese that's why I raised them, my point is, people are buying them presumably on brand recognition (the exception in that list), which is beyond me because I would _not_ buy an MG (Chinese or otherwise).

torginus 1y ago

I dug around the internet, trying to find some sales stats. This list is for EVs: https://www.vehiclecontracts.co.uk/blog/best-selling-electric-cars-in-2025/ https://www.vehiclecontracts.co.uk/blog/best-selling-electri... This is for gas cars: https://www.parkers.co.uk/car-news/bestselling-cars/ https://www.parkers.co.uk/car-news/bestselling-cars/ Both lists have single MG vehicle, so they aren't doing terribly, but based on this, it's hard to conclude they're going to conquer the market. And this is with the UK, which has no tariffs on Chinese EVs. My prediction is that MG is going to fall off the next couple years, considering their reliability has been terrible, according to stats. Even if they fix the issues, they're going to get a reputation and it's a long way back from that.

SideburnsOfDoom 1y ago
And my prediction is that in the UK EV market, MG and Volvo are the thin edge of the wedge of Chinese cars. BYD are on the roads now, and Omoda, soon to be followed by Zeekr, XPeng, Nio and Xiaomi. How well MG does specifically is irrelevant to all that, but your suggestion seems wishful - they have several new models out this year. Tesla's brand reputation is in a ditch, and the big EU brands are struggling to keep up.
- alias_neo 1y ago
  I've also seen a lot of JAECOO vehicles which look like a rip off of Range Rover's styling.
  - SideburnsOfDoom 1y ago
    I think JAECOO are part of the same group as Omoda / Chery. I have no idea if I should have listed it separately or not.
    - alias_neo 1y ago
      Oh interesting, I had no idea. I've really not looked too much into Chinese EVs beyond some YouTube channels talking about some of their sketchy tactics to incentivise "influencers" and presumably subsidies to get to the kinds of prices they're selling at in the UK. I wouldn't consider buying any of them so all I really know is what I see on the streets.
alias_neo 1y ago
Infrastructure is still lacking in the UK, and not everyone has the possibility of charging at home, but the Chinese EVs are the only ones not reaching into luxury vehicle price territory (and the associated costs) in the UK. If the pace of EV sales picks up (and I'm not convinced it will soon), it's hard to see Chinese EVs at the prices they are, not becoming extremely popular. What could turn it around, is, as you say, terrible reliability records, but even then, that didn't seem to stop people buying ICE cars, so I'm not sure how much of an effect it'll have here either. I guess we'll have to wait and see.
- SideburnsOfDoom 1y ago
  > Chinese EVs are the only ones not reaching into luxury vehicle price territory (and the associated costs) in the UK. I didn't mention Polestar until now, as they don't sell in volume, although I do see some of their vehicles on the roads. But they do fit this bracket of "(mostly) Chinese EVs, in the luxury vehicle territory". Arguably also Volvo. Or even top models from Zeekr and Xiaomi. If you're talking impractically high-end cars, look out for MG Cyberster, BYD Yangwang U9.
  - alias_neo 1y ago
    I guess they're covering every segment. I've not seen any of those higher end models myself, I'd be curious to know what kind of numbers they're selling in here versus, let's say, European high-end EVs. I didn't mention Polestar myself either as I'm undecided whether they fit into the "Chinese brands" category; they are Chinese now but I wonder what if any influence Volvo still has on them and if so, what effect that might have on their quality and reliability; perhaps it's "none", but I see Polestar as a brand that would be a more likely purchase because of its Volvo heritage. I've never seen a Zeekr or Xiaomi vehicle here in the UK, not sure if they're on sale here (yet).
    - SideburnsOfDoom 1y ago
      > I've never seen a Zeekr or Xiaomi vehicle here in the UK, not sure if they're on sale here (yet). I don't think Zeekr or Xiaomi are on sale in the UK. Yet. But they will be.

RUnconcerned 1y ago

> The one exception I'd say in the UK are MG EVs, which for some unknown reason some of my fellow Brits have some sort of affinity to as a brand. I have news for you about MG, it's been a Chinese company for almost 20 years now.

alias_neo 1y ago
That's the implication I was making; I know they're Chinese that's why I raised them, my point is, people are buying them presumably on brand recognition (the exception in that list), which is beyond me because I would _not_ buy an MG (Chinese or otherwise).