Chinese car brands have experienced a significant surge in sales in Europe during the first half of 2025, reaching a new market share high of 5.1 percent. This marks a 91 percent year-on-year increase in sales, with a total of 347,135 units sold. The growth has been primarily driven by five key brands – BYD, Jaecoo, Omoda, Leapmotor, and Xpeng.
BYD, in particular, has been a standout performer with a 311 percent increase in sales, totaling 70,500 units in the first half of the year. The company’s aggressive pricing strategy has paid off, with the BYD Seal U model becoming a top performer in the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) segment in Europe.
Jaecoo and Omoda, sub-brands of Chery, have also seen significant growth, with their plug-in hybrid SUVs accounting for a notable portion of monthly registrations in Europe. Meanwhile, Leapmotor has registered over 8,300 new vehicles in June alone, driven by strong demand for its T03 city sedan and C10 SUV.
Xpeng has emerged as the most successful Chinese premium car brand in Europe so far in 2025, with 8,338 registrations in the first half of the year. The company’s G6 model has been a major contributor to this success, with 5,615 registrations recorded.
On the other hand, traditional players like Stellantis and Tesla have experienced declines in sales in Europe. Stellantis saw its market share drop from 16.7 percent to 15.3 percent, while Tesla’s market share fell from 2.4 percent to 1.6 percent. SAIC, a Chinese automaker, has surpassed Tesla in sales for the first time, with a 22 percent increase in sales.
The entry of BYD into Europe’s luxury car market is a significant development, making it the first Chinese automaker to make a mark in this segment. This move underscores the growing influence and competitiveness of Chinese car brands in the global automotive market.
