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Sat, 11 Apr 2026

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 Faisal Islam: Why the government is relaxed about Chinese car imports

The UK government believes the rise of China's car industry could be good for UK consumers and industry.

* A new £5bn investment from India's Tata Group will see the UK's largest gigafactory, Agratas, built in Somerset to manufacture cells for electric vehicle batteries.
* The facility is a crucial part of securing the future of British car manufacturing, which has been hit by the rise of Chinese imports.
* Chinese brands have made up 15% of new UK car sales so far this year, up from 1.3% five years ago.
* Business Secretary Peter Kyle says the government is not trying to prevent UK consumers accessing cars of their choice and is focusing on encouraging jobs and investment from Chinese car makers.
* Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith MP blames government regulation for the sector's decline, while Reform's Robert Jenrick calls for tariffs and quotas to protect British car makers from "unfair Chinese competition".
* The UK has not imposed tariffs on Chinese imports like other G7 countries, allowing Chinese companies to invest in dealer networks and marketing.
* Mike Hawes of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders says it is up to the UK to compete with China's success by offering attractive products at competitive prices.
* The Agratas facility will allow Jaguar Land Rover to keep exporting to the US with a made-in-the-UK battery solution.