Chinese SUVs £40k cheaper than a British Range Rover shows exactly why the UK is doomed

The UK car market now looks completely doomed. China is now the one sounding the bugle, and British drivers are listening. China has tapped into everything consumers want, and manufacturers from the Far East are now fully reaping the benefits.

China's most popular Range Rover clone is the perfect example. For £40,000 less than a Range Rover Evoque, the Jaecoo 7 features a comfortable interior, plenty of boot space and an impressive range. It's a complete game-changer. I'll have one, please, and it seems everyone else will, too.

It's no exaggeration to say that 2025 simply belonged to Jaecoo, with over 30,000 models sold 12 months on from its launch, it is quickly becoming the model on everyone's lips. The Jaecoo 7 finished the year as the most popular retail car in the UK, after picking up multiple Car of the Year prizes.

Families seem more than convinced, with mums and dads taking to TikTok affectionately branding the car a 'Temu Range Rover', a phrase that is more than just dangerous for British manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover.

From the outside, it's easy to draw a visual comparison between the Jaecoo 7 and the Evoque, but if customers are now making the match, it truly suggests motorists are not even slightly aware of the major differences between the two. Why are people going to go out and pay £40,000 more for a better badge if they don't know what extra they are getting?

Yes, the Evoque has a more polished ride, better materials, a higher top speed and a bigger prestige. But the average family wanting a comfortable trip on the school run isn't bothered. Land Rover sales were down in 2025, with 60,720 models leaving forecourts compared to 61,290 cars the year before. It's not a massive drop, but it's not rocket science to figure out where the customers have deserted.

But Jaecoo is but one example, with other British brands also at the mercy of a surge in demand for new Chinese models. BYD enjoyed an incredible 2025 with sales up a whopping 485% and over 50,000 units sold, pushing ahead of Tesla to become the new EV market leader.

Omoda has also impressed with sales up 447% and almost 20,000 cars leaving forecourts. BYD and Omoda produce mid-size SUVs, making it a concern for brands with UK-based factories such as Nissan, Toyota and Vauxhall. Nissan recorded a 10.3% sales decline in 2025, with Toyota also down 11.16%. Vauxhall bucked the trend with a slight rise, but figures were only up 3.84%.

China has a massive head start on the UK, with integrated battery supply chains one of the biggest reasons costs can be so competitive. China is a complete global leader in batteries, producing over half of all EV batteries, while the UK currently has just one gigafactory. We are miles behind and look unable to catch up now.

It will take generations to reach parity, and by then it will be too late. If customers keep choosing China, manufacturers could be begging for sales. What this means for the men and women employed in the manufacturing industry is likely to be catastrophic. I suspect many will soon be looking for a new job.