1 July 2024

by joosup

25 New Electric Car Brands on UK Roads

With rising concerns about the negative environmental impact from fuel-powered vehicles, more and more people are becoming interested in buying electric vehicles.

Over the years there has been a consistent increase both in the demand as well as the supply of electric vehicles, and we are now seeing more electric car brands cropping up in the UK market.

The following are just some new electric car companies which you may wish to check out if you are considering getting your next electric vehicle.

1. Afeela

Country of Origin: Japan
Year Established: 2022
Parent Company (if any): Honda/Sony
Niche: an electric car that is developed by a tech company
Entry Year to UK Market: 2026

Afeela resulted from a partnership between the renowned names Honda and Sony. For the time being they are working on one model, the Afeela E. If you’re really keen on technology, then this is an EV you should be checking out.

Considering it is being developed by Sony, this all-electric saloon is going to be literally packed with tech and one thing that is surely unique is that it can be driven using a PS5 controller! It will comprise numerous high-tech screens inside, but on the outside it is going to have a rather minimalistic design.

It is being envisaged that orders for the Afeela E will open in 2025, and the first deliveries will start being made later in 2026.

2. BYD

Country of Origin: China
Year Established: 2003
Parent Company (if any): BYD Company
Niche: this is the biggest EV company in the world
Entry Year to UK Market: Already active

BYD is a huge Chinese conglomerate which produces solar panels, forklifters, electric bikes and electric cars. The latter is one of its main specialisms and it has led BYD to become the world’s largest auto manufacturer of EVs, managing to overtake Tesla in 2022. BYD started to sell cars in the UK a few months ago. Its Atto 3 SUV did quite well and since then the Seal saloon and the small Dolphin hatchback have also started to be sold in the UK market.

3. Byton

Country of Origin: China
Year Established: 2017
Parent Company (if any): BMW and Nissan partnership
Niche: Design-led EVs
Entry Year to UK Market: Already active

This electric car brand was set up following a partnership between BMW and Nissan and considering what it has achieved within a short span of time, it is doing well. The Byton comes with a range of 289 miles and one of its main features is surely the 48-inch curved OLED 4k screen which runs all across its dashboard.

4. Canoo

Country of Origin: California
Year Established: 2017
Parent Company (if any): Canoo Inc
Niche: Uniqueness for a pickup truck and a lifestyle vehicle
Entry Year to UK Market: Late 2024 (Unconfirmed)

Canoo is an electric car brand that was recently set up in California. It has launched the Canoo Pickup Truck and the Canoo Lifestyle Vehicle. The latter is often described as being like a little bus since it can come with seven seats. It has a range of 200 miles and 350hp. With a price tag of $40,000 it may appeal to some who are looking for this kind of spaciousness. The Canoo Pickup truck on the other hand has over 500hp and a similar range.

5. Deus

Country of Origin: Austria
Year Established: 2020
Parent Company (if any): Deus Automobiles
Niche: Elegance and speed
Entry Year to UK Market: Unconfirmed

The Deus Vayanne is a unique EV characterised by superior elegance and a luxurious design inside and outside. This is coupled up by impressive speed. The Deus is an electric hypercar that is set to impress. It can generate an impressive 2,200hp and 1,475 pound-feet of torque.

6. Faraday Future

Country of Origin: California
Year Established: 2014
Parent Company (if any): Berkshire Hathaway
Niche: Unique design
Entry Year to UK Market: Unconfirmed

Faraday Future has been working on considerably interesting EVs since being founded, including the FFZero1, and the Faraday Future FF 91. While a UK launch does not seem to be in the pipeline for the time being, it is worth keeping this electric car brand in mind if you are into racing cars. The sleek FF91 boasts of 1050hp and it is claimed that it can sprint to 60mph within an impressive 2.3 seconds!

7. Fisker

Country of Origin: USA
Year Established: 2016
Parent Company (if any): None
Niche: Design-led Evs
Entry Year to UK Market: Already active

Henrik Fisker is a Dutch entrepreneur and designer who is the mind behind the Aston Martin DB9, the V8 Vantage and the BMW Z8, among others. He is also the co-founder of Fisker Automotive, and later on of the Fisker Inc., which was founded in 2016.

The Fisker Ocean was launched by Fisker Inc. and it was a success. Indeed, it is an all-electric SUV which is similar to the BMW X3 in size. The Fisker Ocean is being sold in the UK and it starts at a fairly reasonable price of £36,900. There is also a smaller model to the Ocean, Fisker PEAR, being worked upon.

Sadly, trouble looms on the horizon for this fledgling EV brand as a bankruptcy filing is highly probable. That said, this may lead to a number of these vehicles being sold cheaply on the market. So grab one while you can!

8. GWM ORA

Country of Origin: China
Year Established: 2018
Parent Company (if any): Great Wall Motors
Niche: Affordable EVs
Entry Year to UK Market: Already active

This family EV is worth checking out as it is both affordable and nicely designed. It comes with a high quality cabin and an interesting design that makes it stand out. The Ora 03 is in the UK market already and it is doing rather well. The longer range 03 Pro+ is also now available, along with a four-door coupe model that is being called the 07. Sportier models are also soon to hit the UK market.

9. Lucid Motors

Country of Origin: USA
Year Established: 2007
Parent Company (if any): None
Niche: Luxury car
Entry Year to UK Market: Unconfirmed

Lucid’s notable EV is a saloon by the name of Air. This model has a rather futuristic design, and it has a sleek exterior and a highly luxurious interior. Its battery range can go up to 561 miles coupled up with a 0-60mph time within merely three seconds. Hence, Air is a good choice for those who place luxury and speed as a priority. Having said that, Lucid has had to deal with production delays in the USA and as a result its European launch has been postponed.

10. Lynk & Co

Country of Origin: China, Sweden
Year Established: 2016
Parent Company (if any): Geely
Niche: Subscription-based
Entry Year to UK Market: 2024

Lynk & Co was established in Sweden back in 2016. It is owned by Geely, a Chinese automotive company which has been planning to enter the UK auto market for a while. Initially plans were that they would have managed to start deliveries in 2018, but this target was not achieved.

In 2024 however there is going to be a subscription-based service whereby the 01 model can be bought for £600 per month. This will comprise auto insurance, tax as well as breakdown cover. There are also discounts for those car owners who allow other subscribers to use the car when it would otherwise be left idle.

11. MG

Country of Origin: China
Year Established: 2007
Parent Company (if any): SAIC
Niche: Great value for money
Entry Year to UK Market: Already active

MG, a once loved British sports car brand named after Morris Garages, offers an interesting and competitive electric car range that promises practicality and stylishness at reasonable prices. A very good driving range and high-tech batteries are being offered by MG. The MG ZS is one of the most popular models, offering a 273 mile range and very rapid charging.

12. NIO

Country of Origin: China
Year Established: 2014
Parent Company (if any): None
Niche: Battery Swapping
Entry Year to UK Market: 2024

The Nio ET5 is set to enter the UK market during 2024. The ET5 is expected to be sold at around £50,000 in the UK.

This model is already on the roads of Denmark, Sweden and Netherlands, and so far it has received positive reviews. Available as an estate and saloon, the Nio ET5 will feature innovative battery-swap stations.

Basically the car will be driven in a dedicated bay so that the depleted battery pack gets removed by robots and a new full one is installed by robots. Nio already has 1,300 swap stations in China alone, and the company is planning to have around 4,000 such stations worldwide by the year 2025. The idea is to eliminate the need to charge electric cars, so as to remove recharging wait times.

13. Omoda

Country of Origin: China
Year Established: 1997
Parent Company (if any): Chery
Niche: First car being sold in the UK by China’s biggest exporter
Entry Year to UK Market: 2024

The Omoda 5 promises to be another noteworthy EV in the UK, especially considering it has been doing quite well in Australia and New Zealand. Here the brand name is Chery. This model is most likely going to be available as an EV, plug-in hybrid and even as a petrol-fuelled version. The SUV body is trendy, and there is quite some high tech in this model, including twin wraparound digital screens.

14. Rimac

Country of Origin: Croatia
Year Established: 2009
Parent Company (if any): Part owned by Bugatti and Porsche
Niche: Electric hypercars
Entry Year to UK Market: Already active

The founder of Rimac is Mate Rimac. He is one of the most prominent innovators in the automotive industry, and at the very young age of 23, he had already managed to design the Concept One EV hypercar. He has won several international awards as well as competitions that rewards innovation in the world of electronics. In 2021 he designed the Rimac Nevera, a 1,914hp hypercar that was the fastest accelerating vehicle in the world.

Bugatti and Porsche created a joint venture with Rimac Automobili back in 2021. The Rimac Nevera has been doing quite well in the UK market since its introduction.

15. Rivian

Country of Origin: USA
Year Established: 2009
Parent Company (if any): None
Niche: SUVs and pick-up trucks
Entry Year to UK Market: Unconfirmed

Rivian has had plans to enter the EU and UK market for quite some time. However its agreement with Mercedes did not proceed as originally planned, and as a result entry in the UK market did not occur as yet. The plans are definitely still there but there is no entry date that has been confirmed as yet.

In North America the R1T pick-up truck and the R1S SUV are already available. There have also been two smaller SUV models announced by the company, the R2 and R3, which are more suitable for UK roads.

16. SAIC

Country of Origin: China
Year Established: 2013
Parent Company (if any): Partly owned by the Shanghai State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission
Niche: Value for money
Entry Year to UK Market: Already active

SAIC offers a range of EV brands including IM, Maxus, Roewe and MG. These vary from compact to full sized sedans, midsize SUVs as well as hatchbacks, so one can safely say that there is something for anyone and everyone.

17. Seres

Country of Origin: China
Year Established: 2016
Parent Company (if any): Donfeng Motor
Niche: Value for money
Entry Year to UK Market: Already active

The Seres 3 is a small electric SUV being sold at the very low price of 29,995. With a 160hp electric motor and capable of reaching a range of 205 miles, it can be considered as a good choice for those who are looking for good value at a low price. It also comes quite well-equipped considering the price. The styling is quite bland, but if you are on a budget the Seres 3 is surely a good choice.

18. Skywell

Country of Origin: China
Year Established: 2015
Parent Company (if any): Nanjing Golden Dragon Bus
Niche: Value for money & long ranges
Entry Year to UK Market: Late 2024

This luxury electric SUV is a good option for those who are looking for a midsize car at a reasonable price tag. With a 204hp electric motor and a 304-mile range, the Skywell is an EV that is worth checking out and it will be in the UK pretty soon!

19. Vinfast

Country of Origin: Vietnam
Year Established: 2017
Parent Company (if any): Vingroup
Niche: Vietnam’s first ever entry into the European automobile market
Entry Year to UK Market: 2024

Vingroup is a huge corporation that operates numerous companies across Vietnam. Vingroup has moved into the automobile market with Vinfast. The models VF8 and VF9, which are SUVs, will be introduced in North America as well as a number of European countries this year, and entry in the UK is also in their plans. You may expect relatively competitive prices for these SUVs.

20. Volta Trucks

Country of Origin: Sweden
Year Established: 2019
Parent Company (if any): None
Niche: Electric trucks
Entry Year to UK Market: Already active

Volta Trucks was set up in Sweden in 2019, and their first vehicle, the 16 tonne truck Volta that is fully electric was developed in the UK. This is actually the very first fully electric commercial vehicle that has been launched in the market. It is ideal for deliveries, and the goal is to reduce environmental impact when it comes to delivery trucks that are so prevalent in urban areas. Making use of an innovative e-axle to achieve improved range and efficiency it offers a range of 95-125 miles. UK road trials are underway.

21. Voyah

Country of Origin: China
Year Established: 2020
Parent Company (if any): None
Niche: Triple infotainment screens
Entry Year to UK Market: 2025 (Unconfirmed)

Voyah is one of the most recently launched brands, but they have already launched the Voyah Free in Europe. This is an all-electric SUV that has a 310 mile range and dual motors offering 489hp. While it is not yet confirmed whether it will be introduced in the UK market as yet, there is a good chance that it will in time since it has already been launched in mainland Europe for the past few months.

22. Weltmeister

Country of Origin: China
Year Established: 2015
Parent Company (if any): WM Motor
Niche: Mass market EVs
Entry Year to UK Market: Unknown

WM Motor, or Weltmeister, was the first Chinese EV startup to have its very own manufacturing facilities. This is one of the highest funded EV startups in China, and their focus is on mass marketing EVs. There are two models, namely the EX5-Z which is a small crossover, and the EX6 Plus which is a midsize SUV. Their third model, the W6 will be launched in the very near future, although there is no confirmation as to when it will be launched in the UK market as yet.

23. Wey

Country of Origin: China
Year Established: 2016
Parent Company (if any): Great Wall Motors
Niche: Luxury EVs at competitive prices
Entry Year to UK Market: 2024 (Unconfirmed)

Wey is owned by Great Wall Motors. This company sells more than a million vehicles every year in China. Great Wall Motors also own Ora, which are already selling cars in the UK. However in the case of Wey there is no set date when the models will make their way in the UK market as yet. The Wey is a mid-sized plug-in hybrid SUV that is being marketed as being ideal for premium buyers, but despite this the price tag for this model is set to be more realistic than its counterparts in the market, with an expected price of around £50,000.

24. XPeng

Country of Origin: China
Year Established: 2014
Parent Company (if any): None
Niche: High tech EVs
Entry Year to UK Market: 2025 (Unconfirmed)

XPeng launched its models in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands. In these countries it has been selling the model G9, which is considered as its flagship, as well as the P7. The former is an electric SUV, whereas the latter is an EV saloon, thus catering for varying preferences.

One of the main points worth noting about these models is the high tech driver-assistance systems that they come with, along with the ultra-rapid charging rate. 300kW is simply great! Considering the tech being offered, the price of €60,000 is considerably reasonable.

25. Zeekr

Country of Origin: China
Year Established: 2021
Parent Company (if any): Geely
Niche: Speed
Entry Year to UK Market: 2025 or later

Zeekr X is a compact SUV that shares its mechanicals with Volvo EX30 and the Smart 1. There are other models in the pipeline too, including the 001, the 009 and the MPV. Zeekr is already being sold in some European countries. However right-hand cars will not be made available until later next year. The company places a great deal of importance on premium quality as well as offering great customer care service. The cars are quite posh and unique, and so they will most likely appeal to younger drivers.

Conclusion

Being relative newcomers to the automotive world, the above brands and models of EVs offer an interesting variety at prices that can suit almost anyone’s budget, all with features that will cater for diverse preferences.

Since the UK is heading towards the goal of electrification by 2035, many new EV brands are making their way in the UK market now and the near future.

So the supply of EVs promises to be increasingly diverse and interesting.