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The UK has experienced a surge of new car brands entering the market in recent years. Chinese manufacturers such as BYD and GWM Ora have already made their mark with competitive electric vehicles (EVs) like the BYD Seal and the GWM Ora 03.
Below is a preview of just some of the new car brands you can expect to see on UK roads very soon.
Aehra
Country: Italy
Date founded: 2022
Estimated UK arrival: 2026
Launched in 2022, Aehra is an 'ultra-premium' EV brand with a strong focus on sleek, stylish designs, helmed by former Lamborghini chief designer Filippo Perini.
The company is gearing up to introduce a saloon and an SUV, both boasting a 497-mile range and an impressive 794bhp.
Afeela
Country: Japan
Date founded: 2022
Parent company: Honda/Sony
Estimated UK arrival: 2026
Sony had been designing a prototype electric car for several years before joining forces with Honda in 2022. Together, they launched the Afeela brand which is currently working on a minimal, high-tech electric saloon that can be driven with a PlayStation 5 controller.
Orders for this car are set to open in 2025 with deliveries commencing in 2026.
Aiways
Country: China
Date founded: 2017
Estimated UK arrival: 2024
Aiways is a Chinese carmaker whose name derives from the phrase "Ai (meaning 'love' in Chinese) is on the way". Best known for its U5 and U6 crossovers, Aiways has built a significant manufacturing capacity and aims to establish itself in the UK market soon.
Exeed
Country: China
Date founded: 2017
Parent company: Chery
Estimated UK arrival: 2026
Exeed is a premium Chinese car brand owned by Chery. Already well-established in the UAE, Exeed is planning to expand into European markets in the coming years.
The Exlantix E03 saloon and the Exlantix E0Y SUV could rival luxury German brands like Audi and BMW.
Jaecoo
Country: China
Date founded: 2023
Parent company: Chery
Estimated UK arrival: 2024
Jaecoo is a new Chery marque that debuted in 2023 alongside Omoda. The brand will introduce the plug-in hybrid Jaecoo 7 SUV in the UK soon as it looks to establish a substantial dealer network.
Leapmotor
Country: China
Date founded: 2015
Estimated UK arrival: 2025
Leapmotor is a Chinese manufacturer that specialises in building budget EVs. In 2023, Stellantis acquired a 20% stake in the company, boosting plans for European sales.
The Leapmotor T03 city car could become the UK's cheapest electric car when it arrives.
Lucid
Country: USA
Date founded: 2007
Estimated UK arrival: 2025
Lucid was founded in 2007 and spent its initial years making batteries for other carmakers. In 2014 the company began developing its own electric cars, delivering the impressive Lucid Air in 2021.
The Air saloon boasts a 516-mile range and a 3-second 0-62mph time. While Lucid plans to launch the EV in Europe soon, production delays have caused some setbacks.
Lynk & Co
Country: China/Sweden
Date founded: 2016
Parent company: Geely
Estimated UK arrival: 2024-2025
Founded in Gothenburg, Lynk & Co is owned by Chinese car giant Geely and is known for its subscription model. The brand has a range of hybrid vehicles based on Volvo architecture.
Nio
Country: China
Date founded: 2014
Estimated UK arrival: 2025
Nio is one of China's biggest car brands and is best known for its innovative battery-swapping technology. This tech features on the ET5 saloon and estate that's set to arrive in the UK and across Europe next year.
Nio is aiming to build 4,000 battery-swap stations worldwide by 2025. These stations have dedicated bays where a robot replaces the car's depleted battery with a fully charged one in just 5 minutes.
Omoda
Country: China
Date founded: 1997
Parent company: Chery
Estimated UK arrival: 2024
Omoda is set to launch petrol, hybrid and electric versions of the Omoda 5 SUV in the UK. The electric variant offers a 280-mile range and twin wraparound digital screens.
Omoda has sold cars already in Australia and New Zealand under the Chery name.
Seres
Country: China
Date founded: 2016
Parent company: Dongfeng Motor (DFSK)
Estimated UK arrival: 2024
Seres is launching the affordable Seres 3 in the UK this year. The electric SUV is similar in size to the MG ZS and is currently one of the cheapest EVs on the market. It has a 205-mile range and a 157bhp electric motor.
Skywell
Country: China
Date founded: 2017
Parent company: Nanjing Golden Dragon Bus
Estimated UK arrival: 2024
Skywell plans on bringing the ET5 (also called the EV6, not to be confused with Kia's model) and the BE11 to UK markets. The BE11 is a mid-sized electric SUV with 201bhp and a 304-mile range.
VinFast
Country: Vietnam
Date founded: 2017
Parent company: Vingroup
Estimated UK arrival: 2024
Vingroup is a corporate giant in Vietnam, running a wide range of businesses, including supermarkets, hospitals, schools, and electronics companies. Now it’s expanding into the automotive industry for the first time with VinFast.
The brand plans to introduce the VF8 and VF9 SUVs to Europe and North America this year with the UK also on its radar.
Voyah
Country: China
Date founded: 2020
Estimated UK arrival: 2025
Chinese manufacturer Voyah has already unveiled its first car for Europe: the Voyah Free. This all-electric SUV offers a 310-mile range and triple infotainment screens.
XPeng
Country: China
Date founded: 2014
Estimated UK arrival: 2025
XPeng, often called the Chinese Tesla, could be bringing two intelligent EVs into the UK car market. The G9 SUV and P7 saloon feature cutting-edge driver-assistance systems and ultra-rapid charging rates up to 300kW.
XPeng has already launched its flagship electric cars in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands.
Zeekr
Country: China
Date founded: 2021
Parent company: Geely
Estimated UK arrival: 2025
Zeekr is a Geely offshoot that produces electric cars such as the X SUV, 009 MPV and the 001 shooting brake.
The performance 001 FR has 1,265bhp and a 2.07-second 0-62mph time, making it one of the world's quickest EVs.
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