If you’ve noticed more unfamiliar badges on the road lately, you’re not imagining it. According to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the Jaecoo 7 was the UK’s best-selling car in October, for the second month running. It outsold household names like the Nissan Qashqai and Volkswagen Golf, and pushed the Ford Puma, Britain’s best-seller for the whole of 2025, into second place.
For a brand that only launched in the UK in January 2025, that’s a remarkable climb. So what’s going on?
A familiar shape, an unfamiliar name
The Jaecoo 7 is a mid-size SUV, roughly the same footprint as a Qashqai or Tiguan, and it leans into a chunky, premium-looking design that’s drawn comparisons to Range Rover styling (some owners have taken to calling it affectionately online as a “Temu Range Rover”). It starts from around £30,000, comes well equipped as standard, and is backed by a generous warranty, all of which matters a great deal to buyers weighing up value for money.
Jaecoo is part of the Chery group, one of China’s largest manufacturers, and it’s been building a UK dealer network quickly. The Jaecoo 7 has now sold more than 20,000 units since launch, and its smaller sibling, the Jaecoo 5, also cracked the UK’s top ten in October.
It’s not a one-off
This isn’t an isolated result. Chinese-built or Chinese-owned brands, including MG, BYD and Omoda, have been steadily gaining ground across the UK market this year. Buyers who might once have gone straight to a German or Japanese badge out of habit are increasingly cross-shopping with these newer arrivals, drawn in by generous specifications, competitive pricing and lease deals that make the monthly numbers stack up.
What it means if you’re thinking about changing cars
The wider October figures tell a positive story for the market generally. New car registrations rose 5.4% year-on-year, the eleventh consecutive month of growth, with electrified vehicles (that’s full EVs, hybrids and plug-in hybrids combined) making up 59% of all new registrations.
For anyone weighing up their next car, personally or for their business, the lesson from October isn’t necessarily “buy a Jaecoo.” It’s that the market is more competitive than it’s been in years, and that’s good news for buyers. More brands fighting for your business tends to mean sharper pricing, better standard equipment and more choice, whether you’re drawn to an established name or willing to try something newer.
If you’d like a steer on how a car like the Jaecoo 7 compares against more familiar rivals on a lease, or want to see what else is turning heads in the current market, it’s always worth having a chat before you commit to anything.