# New car sales across the country rose 24 per cent in April to 149,000.

*business · news · 2026-05-05 · The Sunday Times*

## Key points

- Chery, Jaecoo, and Omoda cars captured 6.7% of the UK new car market in April.
- These lesser-known Chinese brands outsold Ford, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz in the UK last month.
- Chinese automaker BYD held 3.3% of the UK market in April, behind MG's 4.6%.
- Electric vehicle sales in the UK rose 59% in April to 39,000 units, reaching 26% market share.
- Petrol car market share fell to 42% despite an 8% year-on-year sales increase.

**Companies:** BYD, Deloitte, Chery, Jaecoo, Omoda, MG
**Countries:** UK, China

[Read the full story on The Sunday Times](https://www.thetimes.com/business/companies-markets/article/chinese-brands-drive-uk-car-sales-close-to-pre-pandemic-levels-zpmsxgxxq)

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