IE only asks the question because of three important omens of expansion for Chinese cars in the UK;
- Affordable RR/Evoque homage cars are within the lease budget of people on benefits or low incomes.
- Chinese cars are being sold in shopping malls, not dealerships. Nobody values the dealer experience, they just want cheap.
- 2025 saw 38 official BYD dealers open, as the trade facepalms woke brands like Jaguar, or subscription services like BMW.
LET’S GET INTO IT
OK here’s the word from BYD UK as they open dozens more dealerships in 2025. They have more than doubled their network in one year, even Datsun/Nissan couldn’t match that back in the 70s. Happy New Year by the way;
BYD will reach a significant landmark in the UK by closing out 2025 with a total of 125 franchised dealership sites across the nation. It’s a significant achievement, given that just 12 months ago, the brand’s presence consisted of only 52 dealers.
Steve Beattie, Deputy Country Manager of BYD UK, commenting on the latest said:
“It’s a huge achievement for us at BYD UK to hit 125 dealer locations in such a short space of time. It really speaks of our desire to provide access to the world’s leading New Energy Vehicle manufacturer to as many customers as possible, and I’m massively proud of the team that put in all the hard work that made this happen.
“I’d also like to extend a huge thank you to all of our retail partners who have chosen to join us in 2025, as well as our existing partners who are expanding into additional locations. This continued growth is a powerful endorsement of the confidence retailers have in BYD and the exciting potential ahead, further reinforced by BYD being ranked 3rd in the NFDA, a fantastic achievement for the brand.”
The retailer network now consists of 38 partners – 18 of which were new to the business in 2025.
MONEY TALKS
The BYD Dolphin is just £289 down and £289 a month for 4 years. Miles are capped at 6000 but for many urban drivers that’s fine, it covers the school/shopping run just fine. In real terms new cars have never been cheaper than that in Britain. People used to spend TWICE their annual pre-tax pay buying a Ford Sierra in the 80s. Now people rent a car, because well…why would you buy a depreciating asset?
Once you destroy the concept of ownership it really becomes a game of how much kit for the monthly subs fee scenario, like a smartphone, TV or a gym membership. The car itself has no real value for many UK drivers, most people aren’t petrolheads like Clarkson, they just want a fridge on wheels in the summer and a kids playroom on wheels at the weekend.
China gets that, 100 percent. That’s why they will sell thousands of cars – sorry contracts – in 2026 online, with nobody but a chatbot at the other end of the phone convo. Sales people are going to be replaced, like your IE editor, by AI very soon. Just describe your car spec and budget and boom, there’s your car, delivered to your home 3 days later. No sales patter, machine slop coffee, or waiting 40 mins for a decision on finance/credit.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR INSURERS?
One, the window between people shopping for a new vehicle and getting it is getting narrower by the day. Once you had browser/inquiry data to alert your sales partner brokers, or comparison sites, so you could pitch an invitation by email or text. Soon AI will just pop the quote inside the monthly lease payment and literally NOBODY will care who the insurer is, or waste 2 hours searching online to save £35 a year.
In the era that is hurtling down the motorway at the motor insurance brands data will pre-fill more fields than solar panels in East Anglia. Drivers will have pre-approved levels of cover and the AI pilot will know which add-ons are needed, or will probably sell. The point of sale will become the only chance insurers have to pitch a new PPM deal, rather than old school Comp vs TPF&T. Ditto telematics. Decisions by consumers will be made in 5 seconds, not a 15 min sales call.
China will not only simplify car leasing/buying, making it a slick process, with bolt on insurance/breakdown etc. But they will also cut out the middleman/woman, the traditional dealerships, replacing them with service centres. Half the staff will be drivers who click and collect the car, drop off a replacement, then return a week later with the serviced lease car.
Prediction; There will be a bigger margin in covering the risks at hybrid/EV service centres in the future than most High Streets. This is where are asset value, the environment, data security and reputational risks are – big risks too.
EVERYTHING IS CHANGING FASTER
The pace of change in the UK motor trade is set to accelerate in 2026 and brokers, MGAs and underwriters will have to move quickly on new opportunities. Stop selling the concept of asset protection to Chinese car buyers, start selling insurance as a lifestyle back up plan, a way to segue into a new vehicle with minimal pain and disruption.
That’s the future: Cars as disposable assets, but the mobility lifestyle protected by insurance.
Build your dream brokers.
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