Asger Risom
New sales figures suggest the balance of power is changing as competition intensifies.
A sharp shift is emerging in Britain’s electric car market, with drivers increasingly drawn to premium European models. New sales figures suggest the balance of power is changing as competition intensifies.
Record UK growth
Swedish electric vehicle maker Polestar has reported its strongest-ever performance in the UK. According to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the brand sold 16,959 cars in 2025, almost double the 8,693 recorded the previous year.
December registrations alone reached 1,733 vehicles, marking a 93% increase year on year. That growth helped Polestar secure a 0.84% share of a UK new car market that totalled 2,020,520 registrations, up 3.5% overall.
Polestar’s momentum has been led by the Polestar 2, priced from £45,160, which offers a claimed range of up to 409 miles and targets buyers seeking a premium electric option.
Shifting EV landscape
Battery electric vehicles accounted for 473,348 UK sales last year, representing 23.43% of the market and a 23.9% rise in uptake, according to the SMMT.
Chinese manufacturers as a group expanded their footprint, taking a combined 9.7% share with nearly 196,000 vehicles sold. MG remained the largest Chinese brand with 85,155 registrations, while BYD surged to 51,422, a rise of 485%. Newer entrants such as Omoda and Jaecoo also posted strong early numbers.
However, performance was uneven. Great Wall Motor, which owns ORA and Haval, saw UK sales fall by 53% to just 542 units, underlining difficulties in the higher-end segments.
Premium appeal
Industry analysts cited by the Express say Polestar’s European branding and focus on design and sustainability have helped it compete against lower-priced Chinese rivals. The brand’s positioning appears to resonate with UK buyers looking for perceived quality and refinement.
Polestar chief executive Michael Lohscheller said a strategy update due on February 18 is expected to build on the company’s recent momentum.
Newer models, including the £69,990 Polestar 3 SUV and the £53,750 Polestar 4 coupé, have also supported growth, alongside 0% APR finance offers available until March.
Pressure on rivals
Despite being majority-owned by China’s Geely, Polestar has diversified production to South Korea and the United States. Analysts say this has helped the company avoid some tariffs affecting Chinese-built imports.
The Express reported that higher-end Chinese brands such as NIO and XPeng continue to lag in the UK, with XPeng registering around 900 vehicles and NIO absent from the top SMMT rankings. Experts warn Polestar’s rise could further squeeze rivals as competition for EV buyers intensifies.
Sources: SMMT, Express
