A FEW YEARS ago, if you’d told your neighbour you were thinking about buying a Chinese car, you’d probably have got “the look”. You know the one.

A polite nod. A slight pause. Then: “Are they any good?” Fast-forward to 2026 and that question feels very different. New research from DoneDeal Cars shows Chinese brands are no longer fringe players in Ireland. They’re firmly in the conversation — and for a lot of buyers, they’re serious contenders.

Only 3% of people now say they’re unaware of any Chinese car brand. Awareness is widespread. BYD leads at 40%, MG follows at 31%, while Xpeng (18%) and Leapmotor (9%) are beginning to register too.

That’s not experimental territory any more. That’s mainstream. If you want to understand why Chinese brands are gaining traction, the answer is simple: value.

Nearly three-quarters of Irish buyers (72%) believe Chinese manufacturers offer better value in electric vehicles than established European, Japanese or Korean brands. Almost half say they offer “much better value”. And this isn’t just about sticker price. When asked why they’d consider a Chinese car, 35% cited price — but 27% pointed to higher equipment levels. Buyers see strong specification, strong tech and competitive pricing wrapped into one........

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