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🇷🇴 Romania /Economy & Trade

Chinese Cars Storm Europe: What Attracts Buyers to China’s Brands

From Adevărul · () Romanian

Translated from Romanian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Context piece
  • Chinese automakers registered about 663,000 passenger cars in Europe in the first six months of the year, up roughly 107% from the same period in 2025.
  • Their combined share of Europe’s new-car market rose to about 9.2%, from approximately 4.5% a year earlier.
  • Competitive prices, technology, driving range and a broader lineup, including plug-in hybrids, are supporting the brands’ expansion, while possible future EU tariffs remain under scrutiny.

Chinese carmakers are rapidly gaining ground in Europe, with their combined share of the region’s new-car market doubling in a year. In the first half of the year, they registered about 663,000 passenger cars, roughly 107% more than during the same period in 2025.

Their market share rose to approximately 9.2%, up from about 4.5% in the first half of last year. The advance has been led by brands including MG, BYD, Chery, Omoda-Jaecoo and Leapmotor. MG, owned by SAIC Motor, remains the largest Chinese-origin brand in Europe by registrations, while BYD is closing the gap. Omoda-Jaecoo and Leapmotor are also expanding quickly.

Consumers are opting for more affordable and efficient vehicles.

· Bogdan MaioreanuThe eToro analyst described consumer demand supporting the expansion of Chinese car brands in Europe.

“Consumers are opting for more affordable and efficient vehicles,” said Bogdan Maioreanu, an eToro analyst. He identified accessible pricing as a key reason for the sales growth. Citi estimates cited by Bloomberg indicate that about three-quarters of Chinese car sales in the European Union come from SAIC Motor, BYD and Chery.

Affordable pricing is a key factor behind the growth in sales of Chinese brands.

· Bogdan MaioreanuMaioreanu identified price as a central driver of Chinese automakers’ gains.

Price has become especially important as new cars have grown more expensive. Chinese brands combine competitive prices with generous equipment levels and technology once mainly associated with more expensive models. Their offer has also broadened beyond fully electric cars to include plug-in hybrids, which continue to attract demand in Europe. Dataforce figures cited by Bloomberg show that brands such as Jaecoo, part of the Chery group, accounted for about one-third of plug-in-hybrid registrations in July.

“Unlike fully electric vehicles, these models are not currently subject to additional EU tariffs,” Maioreanu said. The auto industry is closely watching the tariff situation, as the European Commission could also examine measures affecting China-made hybrid vehicles.

Unlike fully electric vehicles, these models are not currently subject to additional EU tariffs.

· Bogdan MaioreanuHe explained why plug-in hybrids may offer Chinese manufacturers an advantage in Europe.
About this summary

Originally published by Adevărul in Romanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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