Chinese-made cars are increasingly popular in Europe, with more than one in every 10 new cars sold in May being from the country.
This increase is driven by more affordable prices and modern features that can compete with well-known European brands.
Hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles are among the models that have attracted the most attention from consumers.
According to data from research firm Dataforce, Chinese car manufacturers accounted for about 11% of new car sales in Europe that month.
They also accounted for almost a quarter of new hybrid car sales.
Among the brands that recorded encouraging performance were MG and BYD, which offered a variety of high-spec models at lower prices than their European competitors.
Analysts believe that Chinese manufacturers are quicker to adapt their strategies to the needs of European consumers.
While many consumers are still not ready to switch completely to electric vehicles, Chinese companies are focusing on hybrid models that are considered more practical.
In addition, they also benefit from various forms of support from the Chinese government such as subsidies, financing and lower production costs.
Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) has imposed additional tariffs on Chinese-made electric cars since 2024 to protect the local automotive industry.
However, the tariffs do not cover most hybrid models, allowing Chinese manufacturers to continue to expand their sales.
In some countries such as Germany, government subsidies for environmentally friendly vehicles have also helped boost demand for Chinese-made hybrid models.
At the same time, European car manufacturers are facing various challenges such as high energy and labor costs, slow demand and fierce competition from Chinese companies.
This situation has led Chinese brands to continue to expand their influence in the European market, and have even begun to plan to increase their presence through investment and production in the region.
