UK Ford Dealer Changing to BYD, as Signal of Massive Chinese EV Growth

Recently, news broke that Evans Halshaw Ford Bury in the UK will be transitioning to a BYD dealership. Bury is a market town on the River Irwell in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, Greater Manchester, England.

On November 28, 2025, Nicholas Bolton, Head of Business Evans Halshaw Ford Bury, said: “One month to go until we take down the Ford signs and replace them with BYD. Its been a 22 year journey that has provided many happy memories. But it’s now time to get onboard with BYD and enjoy the ride with a very ambitious manufacturer that has a amazing product range and a very bright future. We will still be a Ford approved repair center for all of your aftersales needs.”

Evans Halshaw is one of the UK’s leading volume motor car and commercial vehicle retailers, offering national coverage through an extensive network of locations. Established in 1927, the company draws on decades of heritage to tailor each customer experience, providing a wide range of new and used vehicles. Part of the wider Lithia UK group, Evans Halshaw holds franchises to retail and service ten brands of cars and vans, including Citroën, Dacia, DS, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, and Vauxhall.

Chinese EV Giant BYD’s UK Sales Soared by 880% in September 2025

On October 7, 2025, the BBC reported that Chinese automaker BYD revealed the UK has become its largest market outside China, following an 880% year-over-year sales surge in September. The company sold 11,271 vehicles in the UK in September, led by the plug-in hybrid version of its Seal U SUV. This record-breaking performance coincided with data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showing UK electric vehicle (EV) sales hitting an all-time high.

The UK’s decision not to impose tariffs on Chinese EVs, unlike the European Union and the United States, has made it an attractive market for BYD, which competes strongly on price against Western rivals. Its UK market share rose to 3.6% in September. BYD’s UK general manager, Bono Ge, described the outlook in Britain as “hugely exciting,” noting the recent opening of the brand’s 100th retail outlet and plans to launch several new hybrid and electric models soon.

SMMT figures show nearly 73,000 pure battery EVs sold in September, with plug-in hybrid sales growing even faster. Popular models included the Kia Sportage, Ford Puma, and Nissan Qashqai, alongside Chinese entries like the Jaecoo 7 and BYD Seal U, which made the UK’s top 10 bestsellers. Despite strong EV growth, petrol and diesel vehicles still accounted for more than half of new registrations.

While the UK welcomes Chinese EVs, the EU has imposed tariffs of up to 45% on imports to counter what it calls state-subsidized competition, and the US maintains high import barriers. Globally, BYD continues to outsell Tesla, Jaguar, and BMW, even as domestic growth slows.

In July, the UK government introduced £650 million in EV purchase incentives, offering up to £3,750 per vehicle for brands such as Nissan, Peugeot, and Vauxhall. Chinese-made EVs were excluded due to concerns over manufacturing emissions, a decision BYD criticizes as potentially limiting the UK’s long-term EV competitiveness.

EVinfo.net’s Take: USA’s Economy Will Suffer From Anti-EV Policy

In 2025, global EV adoption is accelerating but uneven. Mainland China has reached a historic milestone: new energy vehicles (NEVs) now account for 50% of new car sales, surpassing internal combustion vehicles, thanks to decades of subsidies, local battery production, and rapid model launches. Chinese automakers are also expanding globally, despite trade restrictions and tariffs, with plug-in hybrids gaining traction in regions such as Brazil and Central Asia.

Europe’s five largest markets show EV adoption at 23%, influenced primarily by policy stability, fleet demand, and cost-of-ownership advantages, though adoption fluctuates with subsidy changes.

By contrast, the United States and many emerging economies remain in early adoption stages. BEVs make up just 7.5% of U.S. new car sales, with overall electrification plateauing at 9% due to high upfront costs, inconsistent policies, and limited charging infrastructure. Hybrids are capturing most incremental demand.

EVinfo.net warned in November 2025 that the U.S. risks losing more ground in the global EV transition, which will shape future automotive manufacturing, battery innovation, and mobility services. While America has structural advantages, including renewable energy, research institutions, and private charging networks, urgent alignment of policy, infrastructure, and affordability is needed to become competitive. Without decisive action, the U.S. will fall further behind China and Europe in EV leadership, supply chain influence, and technological innovation.

Electrek reported that $28.7B of US EV and renewable projects were wiped out in 2025, with the total number of job losses tied to abandoned projects this year reported at almost 30,000. All US anti-EV and anti-renewable energy policy must be reversed. If it is not, our economy will certainly suffer more than it already has.