Chinese car brands are accelerating their expansion in the European market. According to a report by Bloomberg on July 22, in June, Chinese automakers secured more than one-third of the market share for new electric hybrid cars in Europe, setting a record high.
According to data from the European automotive market analysis firm Dataforce, Chinese automakers including BYD and Chery accounted for 34% of Europe's electric hybrid vehicle deliveries in June, setting a record. At the same time, Chinese brands' share in the markets for pure electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles without plug-in capabilities remained relatively stable.
Dataforce analyst Julian Litzinger believes Chinese automakers are actively promoting plug-in hybrid vehicle sales in anticipation of the EU's potential tariff measures before they go into effect.
Currently, the European Union only imposes high tariffs on pure electric vehicles manufactured in China. However, according to the German newspaper ‘Handelsblatt’, the EU may also consider imposing additional tariffs on plug-in hybrid models manufactured in China in the future. The European Union has not officially announced any such plans.
According to Li Qingge's analysis, Chinese automakers are making a strategic judgment: even if the EU imposes tariff measures in the future, by then, Chinese brands will have established a sufficient presence in European markets, and their distribution systems will be well-established. It will be difficult for the EU to remove these brands from the market without causing significant economic disruption in Europe.
Bloomberg pointed out that in recent years, driven by strict European carbon emissions regulations, many European automakers have shifted their focus to pure electric vehicles. Chinese automakers, on the other hand, continue to advance the development of hybrid technologies. Thanks to their higher cost-effectiveness and more mature technical approaches, they are gradually gaining favor with European consumers.
Reports indicate that European traditional car giants are facing dual pressures from Chinese brands. European automakers, represented by the Volkswagen Group in Germany, not only face competition from local brands in the Chinese market, who use advanced technology and lower prices to gain market share, but also have to contend with new Chinese brand models in the European market.
This pressure is affecting Europe’s automotive exports. Data released by the German government this week shows that Germany’s exports of cars and parts to China have continued to decline. This year, the related exports fell by more than a quarter, reaching 4.7 billion euros (approximately 36.3 billion yuan).
According to Dataforce, in June this year, Chinese brands accounted for 11% of European new car sales, and their share in the electric vehicle market reached 15%. If all hybrid vehicles, including those with non-plug-in capabilities, are considered, nearly a quarter of new cars in the European market come from Chinese brands.
