Chinese carmakers lose momentum in Europe after record September

Chinese automakers saw their European market share slip in October, retreating from the record levels achieved just a month earlier, according to industry researcher Dataforce.

In hybrid segments, where companies such as BYD and SAIC Motor’s MG have been expanding aggressively, Chinese brands’ share dropped about three percentage points to 12.6%, down from September’s peak. Their share of new electric-vehicle registrations also declined, falling to 11.8% from 12.6% across the EU, EFTA countries, and the UK, Bloomberg writes. 

Dataforce analyst Benjamin Kibies attributed much of the decline to weaker sales in the UK. Excluding the British market, Chinese manufacturers continued to gain ground elsewhere in Europe. Despite October’s pullback, Chinese brands still recorded their second-best month on record for EVs, hybrids, and total market share.

Two of the fastest-growing players—Chery Automobile and Leapmotor—have expanded rapidly this year by offering competitively priced models tailored to regional preferences. Chery has targeted cost-conscious markets such as Spain and Italy through its Omoda and Jaecoo brands.

Leapmotor, meanwhile, is scaling up its partnership with Stellantis, parent company of Fiat and Peugeot. The collaboration brings Leapmotor’s compact electric T03 hatchback into Stellantis’s portfolio, strengthening its lower-cost EV offerings. The T03, priced at just under €19,000 ($22,036), has “significant potential,” said Daniele Ministeri, a consultant at Jato Dynamics, who noted the brand’s value in boosting Stellantis’s expertise in new-energy vehicles.

In September, Chinese manufacturers collectively overtook South Korea’s automakers—including Kia—for the first time in Europe, marking a milestone in their steady expansion. Many have moved beyond pure EVs to tap into soaring demand for hybrid models.

BYD has been particularly aggressive, accelerating its dealer-network expansion with a strong emphasis on the UK, where sales typically surge in September due to a biannual license-plate change.

By Sabina Mammadli