Chinese brands gain as Europe car sales rise

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May 27, 2026 12:02 AM EDT

A Xpeng's new flagship SUV GX car on stage during a launch event in Beijing, China May 20, 2026. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang

By Mathias de Rozario

May ‌27 (Reuters) - Demand ​for ​electrified cars kept Europe's auto market growing in April, offsetting weaker petrol and diesel demand and ‌helping Chinese brands extend their market share, data from ⁠the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association showed on Wednesday.

Registrations in the European Union, ‌Britain and the European ‌Free Trade Association rose 7% to 1,152,315 vehicles in April, taking the total for January through April 4.8% above ​a year earlier, according to the data.

Electrified vehicles (battery-electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid models) rose about 21% and made up ⁠more than two-thirds of total registrations, while petrol and diesel cars fell about ​15% and 17%, respectively.

The figures add to evidence that policy support, subsidies and higher fuel costs are ​pushing buyers towards lower-emission vehicles, especially ‌in the region's biggest markets.

TESLA GAINS GROUND, AS DO CHINESE AUTOMAKERS

That shift also continued to ⁠reshape competition among carmakers.

Tesla extended its recovery for a third straight month, with April registrations rising 46.5% to 10,654 units after more ⁠than a year of declines, but it remained behind China's BYD, whose ​registrations jumped 114.5% to 27,008 vehicles.

Chinese carmaker Chery also expanded rapidly, with registrations up about 322%, while established manufacturers posted mixed results: Volkswagen ‌rose 3.5%, Stellantis 6.7%, Bayerische Motoren Werke 2.4% and Mercedes-Benz 7%, while Renault fell 3.6%.

Italy, ‌France and Germany were among the strongest markets for battery-electric ⁠vehicles in the first four ‌months of the ​year, with registrations up about 73%, 48% and 41%, respectively.

(Reporting by Mathias de Rozario; Editing by Matt ‌Scuffham)


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