Chinese brands capture 14.2% of Western Europe’s battery-EV market

Chinese brands increased their share of battery-electric vehicle sales across Western Europe to 14.2% in the first five months of 2026, according to figures from Schmidt Automotive Research reported on August 9.

The 171,800 vehicles sold amounted to roughly one in every seven battery-electric cars in the markets covered. That was an increase of nearly five percentage points from the same period in 2025, as manufacturers including BYD, Chery, SAIC and Xpeng expanded their European presence.

The growth came despite European Union duties of up to 35.3% on electric vehicles made by some Chinese companies, in addition to the standard 10% import tariff. The United Kingdom, which has not adopted the EU’s additional levies, accounted for about a quarter of Chinese battery-EV sales across the 18 largest Western European markets. Italy contributed about a fifth, helped by purchase subsidies that sharply reduced the price of Leapmotor’s T03 model.

Chinese manufacturers offered more than 120 models in Europe during the period, compared with about 100 from European brands. However, research founder Matthias Schmidt said the battery-EV share may have reached a near-term peak because Chinese companies are shifting shipping capacity toward plug-in hybrids, which are not currently covered by the EU’s additional duties.

The figures add pressure to Europe’s debate over industrial protection and the scope of vehicle tariffs. They also showed a rebound for Tesla: its European sales rose 60% from a year earlier, supported by cheaper versions of the Model 3 and Model Y. The Model Y was the region’s bestselling individual model during the period.