Britain to build £500m port to cope with flood of cheap Chinese cars

Group 1: Market Overview - The UK car import market is experiencing significant growth, with Chinese car shipments expected to surpass 100,000 units annually by 2026, accounting for nearly 20% of all cars imported or exported through Southampton [2] - The total value of UK car imports reached £44 billion, which is approximately 63% higher than the £28 billion worth of vehicles exported [3] Group 2: Company Developments - Associated British Ports (ABP) plans to invest £500 million in a new car terminal near Southampton to accommodate the increasing influx of electric vehicles from China [1] - ABP is nearing full capacity at its current vehicle terminal, which has 56,000 car storage spaces, and anticipates that an additional 6,000 spaces will be filled by next year [5][6] Group 3: Infrastructure Expansion - The proposed new terminal will include a multi-storey storage facility capable of housing tens of thousands of vehicles and a new jetty with berths for two specialist transporter ships, each with a capacity of 7,000 cars [6][7] - ABP aims to submit formal proposals for the new development in 2027 and hopes to secure planning permission by 2028 [7] Group 4: Global Context - China's rapid advancement in the electric vehicle sector has raised international concerns, with former US President Joe Biden labeling the influx of Chinese EVs as a national security threat, while the EU has imposed tariffs to protect local manufacturers [4]