Last checked September 2026.
Some Chinese car brands in the UK are household names in China and brand new here. Others, like MG, carry a British badge but are owned by a Chinese company. Here is who owns each brand, where the cars sold in the UK are built, and why it matters for grants, tariffs and resale.
Who owns which brand
| Brand | Parent company | Ownership |
|---|---|---|
| MG | SAIC Motor | Chinese state-owned |
| BYD and Denza | BYD Co. | Private, listed in Hong Kong and Shenzhen |
| Omoda, Jaecoo and Chery | Chery Automobile | Majority local-government owned |
| Leapmotor | Zhejiang Leapmotor | Stellantis owns about 21%; Stellantis runs its international sales |
| Deepal | Changan Automobile | Chinese state-owned |
| XPeng | XPeng Inc. | Private and listed; Volkswagen holds a small stake |
| Zeekr | Geely | Private (Geely also owns Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and a stake in smart) |
| Maxus | SAIC Motor | Chinese state-owned |
| GWM (Ora, Haval) | Great Wall Motor | Private, listed |
Where UK cars are built
Despite new European factories, every Chinese-brand car sold in the UK is currently built in Asia, mostly in China. The European plants build left-hand-drive cars for EU markets.
- MG: China, with some models built in Thailand.
- BYD: China. BYD’s new plant in Szeged, Hungary, began trial production in 2026, with the Dolphin Surf due there, but there is no confirmation that UK cars will come from it.
- Omoda, Jaecoo and Chery: China (the Jaecoo 7 is built in Dalian). Chery assembles cars in Barcelona for Spain.
- Leapmotor: China. Stellantis is preparing production in Zaragoza, Spain, but Leapmotor UK has said UK cars will stay China-sourced for now.
- Deepal: China, with some production in Thailand.
- XPeng: China. Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria assembles XPengs for the EU.
- Zeekr and GWM: China.
Why it matters
The Electric Car Grant
The UK’s grant of up to £3,750 scores cars on where they and their batteries are made. Because Chinese factories run on a coal-heavy grid, no Chinese-built car qualifies. See why no Chinese cars get the Electric Car Grant.
Tariffs
The EU charges extra tariffs on Chinese-built electric cars, which is why Chinese brands are building factories there. The UK has no such tariffs, which is one reason Chinese cars are often cheaper here than on the Continent, and why UK cars are still shipped from China.
Parts and repairs
Parts shipped from China can take longer to arrive, which has pushed up insurance costs for some newer brands. See our insurance groups guide.
Chinese-owned brands you might not realise
Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and smart are all owned or part-owned by Geely. Volvo builds cars in Sweden and Belgium, but the Polestar 2 and smart #1 are built in China. Interestingly, a 2026 study found these Chinese-owned Western brands held their value less well than Chinese brands themselves. See our depreciation guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is MG a Chinese company?
Yes. MG began in Britain, but since 2007 it has been owned by SAIC Motor, a Chinese state-owned car maker. MG cars sold in the UK are built in China and Thailand.
Are any Chinese cars built in Europe for the UK?
Not currently. BYD, Chery, Leapmotor and XPeng have European production, but it supplies left-hand-drive EU markets. UK cars are built in Asia.
Who owns Omoda and Jaecoo?
Both are brands of Chery Automobile, one of China’s biggest car exporters.
Is Leapmotor owned by Stellantis?
Partly. Stellantis, owner of Peugeot, Vauxhall and Fiat, bought around 21% of Leapmotor in 2023 and runs its sales outside China, including in the UK.