London, 5 February 2026 – The latest new car registration figures released this morning by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reveal a market in quiet but profound flux, according to Stuart Masson, Editorial Director of The Car Expert.
“Today’s figures tell a very different story from the one suggested by the headlines,” Masson said. “Much of the focus is on EV market share, but that is not where the most significant change is happening.”
Masson highlights the unprecedented speed at which new Chinese entrants are reshaping the UK market. Combined, BYD UK and the Chery Group registered nearly 13,000 cars in January – more than Volkswagen UK, which remains the biggest individual brand. “The overall market grew by fewer than 5,000 cars year-on-year,” Masson explains. “This means the rest of the market actually declined; what looks like growth is, in reality, rapid displacement.”
The Chery Group exemplifies this shift. Operating under the Omoda, Jaecoo, and Chery brands, the group emerged as the UK’s third-biggest seller in January. Its Jaecoo 7 model alone outsold more than half of all other brands, despite having only entered the market 12 months ago. A fourth Chery brand, Lepas, is set to join the line-up later this year.
These new entrants are also driving growth in plug-in hybrid registrations. Masson notes that models such as the Jaecoo 7, BYD Seal U, and MG HS feature in the month’s top ten, reinforcing that the UK’s evolving EV strategy will not curb the influx of Chinese cars. “Watering down the UK’s EV plans will not ‘save’ UK car manufacturing. China will simply continue sending more cars, powered by whatever fuel the Government requires,” he said.
Masson also cautions against overinterpreting EV headlines. Tesla, for instance, registered 51% fewer vehicles this January compared to last, a reflection of registration timing and operational flexibility rather than demand collapse. “By the end of the first quarter, we will have a much clearer picture of where the market really sits,” he said.
Currently, 54 car brands operate in the UK, with more set to arrive this year, including Lepas, Mitsubishi, and Denza. But Masson suggests the real question is not how many new brands are entering, but how many of the current ones will survive in the coming years. “With brands like Fisker already disappearing and others struggling, the UK car market is becoming increasingly competitive and dynamic,” he concluded.
