THE exciting new brands from China offering exceptional value and strong technical depth are now being increasingly accepted by fleets in the UK market where they are being added to choice lists.
Brands such as BYD, Jaecoo, Omoda, Leapmotor and Xpeng are starting to resonate with SME fleets in the UK.
According to a survey conducted by leasing company Arval, nearly 25% of fleets have introduced new car and van entrants to the UK market, while another 25% of fleets are poised to do so.
John Peters, Head of Arval Mobility Observatory in the UK (left) said:
“We are in an unprecedented time in terms of the numbers of new manufacturers entering the new car and van market, with the majority coming from China. Most of them appear to be offering mainly electric cars and vans that are at least credible and, in some cases, very good – and are often keenly priced with strong equipment levels. For fleets and their drivers that are looking to achieve maximum value in an electric vehicle market where prices often remain high, there are obvious attractions and at Arval UK, we have certainly seen quite a high level of interest from our customers and a steady stream of orders.”
The research from the Arval Mobility Observatory barometer showed that some fleets are waiting for the new entrants to become more established while 12% said they will not be adding them to choice lists in the foreseeable future.
John said: “Many of the new entrants are seeking to establish a UK presence, particularly with electric cars and vans but it remains to be seen which of these manufacturers will feature significantly in the long-term fleet market.
“This stability is crucial for fleets when it comes to everything from predicting residual values to long-term parts and repair availability. No one wants to be left with vehicles if a new entrant decides that the UK market isn’t for them and withdraws.
“It’s perhaps interesting to note that we asked the same question in the Arval Mobility Observatory Barometer last year and the results across all questions for 2025 are almost unchanged, except for a small rise from 21% to 25% in fleets who want to wait to see which manufacturers become established, perhaps indicating a slightly increased sense of caution.”
We have fleet road tests of cars such as the BYD Sealion 7,and Jaecoo 7 to help you decide if a Chinese newcomer is right for your SME fleet.
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