Chinese SUV Outsells Ford and Nissan to Become UK’s Best-Selling Car

In an ironic twist of fate, a Chinese SUV with looks that mimic premium British styling—particularly the Range Rover Evoque—has become the UK’s best-selling vehicle in March.

The Jaecoo 7 compact SUV, built by Chinese automaker Chery, saw 10,064 registrations in Britain last month, overtaking the previous top-selling car, the Ford Puma subcompact crossover (9,193 units sold), and the Nissan Qashqai (8,718 units), a longtime favorite of British car buyers.

From Zero to Hero in Only 14 Months

This is a remarkable result for Chery’s brand Jaecoo, which only entered the UK market a little over a year ago in January 2025.

According to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), 15,569 Jaecoo 7 SUVs were sold in the UK since the start of this year, putting it just behind the Ford Puma, which saw 16,128 registrations in the first quarter.

Known as the “Temu Range Rover” because of its resemblance to the Range Rover Evoque and its 50% lower price, the Jaecoo 7 offers three available powertrains—gas, hybrid and plug-in hybrid—and starts at £30,165 in the UK ($37,700 at the current exchange rate).

It’s worth noting that 85% of all Jaecoo 7 sales in March were for the range-topping SHS-P plug-in hybrid variant, which offers an EV range of 56 miles. The Jaecoo 7 SHS-P starts at £35,175 ($47,220).

Chinese Carmakers Nearing 10% Market Share in Europe

“This result reflects not only the strength of the product, but also the commitment of our growing UK retail network and the confidence customers are placing in our brand,” said Gary Lan, the CEO of Jaecoo UK.

“While we are relatively new to the market, our global Chery Group manufacturing base and extensive experience in vehicle exports have enabled us to adapt quickly to UK market needs and grow sustainably here,” he added.

As Autocar points out, the Jaecoo 7 is not the only Chinese car that UK buyers are buying in large numbers. In the first quarter of 2026, SAIC Motor-owned MG had a market share of 3.88%, while BYD was not far behind. Chinese brands are growing their market share in Europe, reaching 8% of the total EU car market in February 2026.

This should serve as a warning to European manufacturers as it shows that consumer loyalty to the established companies, badges and models in the region only goes so far, with the better deals offered by Chinese carmakers being more important for an increasing number of buyers.