Chinese automaker BYD has announced that the United Kingdom has become its largest market outside China, following a dramatic 880% increase in sales in September compared to the same month last year.
According to the company, 11,271 vehicles were sold in the UK last month, with the plug-in hybrid version of the Seal U SUV accounting for the majority of those sales.
Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed that electric vehicle (EV) sales reached a record high in September, further highlighting the UK’s growing appetite for cleaner transport options.
Industry analysts note that the UK is an especially attractive market for companies like BYD, as Chinese electric vehicles face no import tariffs, unlike in the European Union or the United States.
Offering more affordable models than many of its Western competitors, BYD increased its UK market share to 3.6% in September.
BYD’s UK Manager, Bono Ge, said the company plans to launch several new hybrid and electric models in the coming months. He described the brand’s prospects in Britain as “extremely exciting,” coinciding with the opening of BYD’s 100th showroom in the country.
