Consumer interest in Chinese electric vehicle (EV) brands continues to rise sharply in the UK, with BYD recording the strongest growth on Carwow’s platform in March 2025.
According to the online automotive marketplace, configurations of BYD models increased by 449% year-on-year, while enquiry volumes rose by 990%, outpacing all other brands.
Carwow also reported an 836% year-on-year rise in the number of BYD enquiries passed on to retailers during Q1 2025. The company said this reinforced BYD’s position as the UK’s fastest-growing car brand, with a 33% increase in leads compared with the previous quarter.
Carwow Managing Director of Media & Commercial, Sepi Arani, described BYD’s launch in Europe as “exceptionally well executed,” noting that its Euro 2024 sponsorship contributed to a sharp rise in awareness. “We saw awareness climb from 28% pre-tournament to 44% afterwards, and it reached 58% in March this year,” he said.
The platform also noted rising interest in other Chinese marques. Enquiries for OMODA models increased by 41% in Q1 2025 compared with Q4 2024, while JAECOO enquiries jumped 531% in March versus the previous month.
Carwow’s latest consumer sentiment data shows a gradual shift in attitudes towards Chinese car brands. In early 2023, 24% of surveyed users said they would consider a Chinese vehicle for their next purchase. By early 2025, that figure had risen to 39%.
Among Carwow’s ten most viewed car reviews in March, nine were battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and eight featured Chinese brands. BYD’s Seal and Sealion 7 topped the list, followed by Tesla’s Model Y, MG’s HS, and the Omoda 5. Other popular models included the Jaecoo 7, BYD Dolphin, Seal U, and MG4, alongside Audi’s Q4 e-tron.
Arani added that Carwow’s platform offers “a unique proposition for legacy and new brands alike”, allowing emerging manufacturers such as BYD to “target in-market customers throughout the car-changing funnel”.
