“Finance and price key to new wave of Chinese EVs”

Keen pricing would be the key reason for drivers to accept the new wave of Chinese-made EVs about to hit the UK market, an industry body has said.

December’s Startline Used Car Tracker research shows that a low purchase price and strong finance deal was top of five factors that would see these brands considered by motorists, mentioned by 25% of drivers. This was followed by good range and fast charging (18%), long warranty (17%), a high quality car with appealing design (16%) and having a dealership nearby (12%).

Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: “Right now, we’re on the edge of a whole range of new Chinese made EVs arriving on the UK market from manufacturers that will be entirely unknown to UK buyers, so we thought it timely to look at what would lead drivers to consider them over established brands.

“Our findings are that buyers want these vehicles to be relatively cheap to buy but don’t want to sacrifice range, speed of charging and just simply having an appealing car that is well made. Really, they want the whole package to be strong – and many would also like a high quality warranty and a dealership around the corner.”

He pointed out that older people might remember the arrival of Japanese cars in the UK in the 1970s and the way in which they became established.

“Those Japanese manufacturers, who are now household names, found success by selling low cost, reliable, well-equipped vehicles, often from smaller, local dealerships. These Chinese brands may well do the same over the next few years, especially at a time when more well-known brands could struggle to compete with them on price.”