![\"BYD](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/chinese-brands-surge-to-the-top-of-the-uk-phev-market-challenging-established-giants.jpg\" "\\"BYD")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe BYD Seal U and Jaecoo 7 SUVs took the top two spots in the UK’s PHEV sales chart last month<\/p>\n
Chinese car makers have broken the stranglehold of Volkswagen<\/a>, Ford<\/a> and the premium brands on the booming UK plug-in hybrid<\/a> market, taking the top two\u00a0positions in May.<\/p>\n The BYD Seal U<\/a>\u00a0took the top spot\u00a0with 1576 sales, followed by the\u00a0Jaecoo 7<\/a>\u00a0with 1346 sales, according to figures from market analyst Jato\u00a0Dynamics. The Volkswagen Tiguan<\/a> was third, followed by the Ford Kuga<\/a> and Range Rover Sport<\/a>.<\/p>\n The situation in the UK is being played out across Europe, where sales of Chinese PHEVs rose 421% to 30,400 in the first four months of the year, giving them an 8.3% of the PHEV market, Jato has revealed.<\/p>\n The growth of the Chinese is even more remarkable when you consider how few models they actually offer. More than half of those sales came from the Seal U, a fifth came from the MG HS<\/a> SUV and 16% came from the 7, according to Jato. (Sales of the Geely-owned Lynk&Co 01<\/a> SUV, a pioneer in the segment, have however tumbled as the brand reassesses its model plan.)<\/p>\n China now has a greater share of the PHEV market than it does of the EV market in Europe, as makers diversify in response to the tariffs on Chinese-made electric cars. PHEVs aren’t hit by those tariffs.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are trying to offset the drops from their BEV models in Europe with these powertrains, which are equally competitive,\u201d Jato global automotive analyst Felipe Munoz told Autocar.<\/p>\n Chinese cars, along with new models from the Volkswagen Group, are driving growth of PHEVs\u00a0across Europe, according to data from the bank UBS.\u00a0<\/p>\n The UK was the second largest PHEV market in Europe in May,\u00a0after Germany, with sales up 51%\u00a0to hit 17,899 for a 12% share, UBS figures show.<\/p>\n German PHEV sales rose by\u00a0a similar percentage to reach just over 25,000, while in Spain PHEV sales climbed 66% to 12,896 and in Italy they rose 52% to 8953.<\/p>\n France was unique among\u00a0the big five European markets in recording a fall in PHEV sales, after tax concessions were removed at the start of the year.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cMay was a month with strong momentum for Chinese brands,\u201d UBS analyst Patrick Hummel said, noting their strong PHEV sales. \u201cThey\u2019re no longer negligible in the competitive landscape.\u201d<\/p>\n For a long time, PHEVs\u00a0were the preserve of premium brands, with contribution from the Volkswagen Group for larger models.<\/p>\n Volkswagen, BMW<\/a> and Land Rover<\/a> were still the three biggest PHEV brands in the UK in May, according to SMMT figures.<\/p>\n However, the Chinese have won over a more cost conscious buyer with a combination of keen pricing, long electric-only\u00a0range and generous standard equipment.<\/p>\n The Seal U, for example, starts at \u00a333,315 with an official\u00a0EV range of 50 miles. The 7 costs from\u00a0\u00a335,165\u00a0with a 56-mile EV range.\u00a0<\/p>\n Both are beaten by the HS, which costs from \u00a331,995 with a 75-mile EV range. By contrast, the cheapest Tiguan<\/a> PHEV (also with a 75-mile EV range) costs 35% more, at\u00a0\u00a342,665.<\/p>\n The low official CO2 emissions figures\u00a0of Chinese PHEVs gives them lower BIK tax ratings and thus makes them more appealing to fleet drivers. The UK’s PHEV market was 70% fleet in May, SMMT figures show.<\/p>\n More Chinese PHEVs\u00a0are on the way. BYD has said it will add another two models to its European line-up; one of them is expected\u00a0to be the new\u00a0Seal 06 estate<\/a>, revealed at the Shanghai motor\u00a0show<\/a> in April.<\/p>\n Jaecoo owner Chery meanwhile has promised a slew of new PHEV models as it looks to pull a lead in the segment across Europe as part of a broader move away from pure-ICE models.<\/p>\n Already confirmed for the UK is a PHEV version of the current Omoda 5<\/a>, as well the larger upcoming Omoda 7. The Omoda 9<\/a>\u00a0PHEV\u00a0has already gone on sale.<\/p>\n Between now and the first half of 2026, Chery will also launch models in its Tiggo SUV range in the UK, including PHEVs, as well as the new Lepas budget\u00a0SUV brand<\/a>.<\/p>\n