Chinese manufacturers registered 43,500 new cars across Europe in August, a 121% year-on-year increase that pushed their combined volume above Audi (41,300) and Renault (37,800), according to Jato Dynamics.
Five Chinese brands – MG, BYD, Jaecoo, Omoda and Leapmotor – accounted for 84% of their total market share, with MG alone outselling Tesla and Fiat. BYD moved ahead of Suzuki and Jeep, while Jaecoo and Omoda each overtook Alfa Romeo and Mitsubishi. Overall, Chinese brands reached a 5.5% European market share in August.
The growth came against a strong month for electrified vehicles more broadly. BEV registrations increased 27% year-on-year, lifting segment share to a record 20.2%. PHEVs surged 59% to 83,900 units, taking a 10.6% share. Within this, Chinese brands played an outsized role, lifting their PHEV registrations from just 779 units in August 2024 to over 11,000 last month, with models including the BYD Seal U, Jaecoo J7 and MG HS entering the European PHEV top 10.