Chinese manufacturers gaining across all drivetrains in Western Europe

According to research by Schmidt Automotive Research published in the latest European Chinese OEM Study, Chinese auto manufacturers' new passenger car models are seeing increasing penetration gains across all drivetrains in which they operate across Western Europe despite protectionist levies in place for the past 13 months.

Mitigating against anti-subsidy EU tariffs on BEV imports from China since Q4 2024, has led to a pivot by Chinese manufacturers to leveraging its domestic competence in New Emission Vehicles (NEVs), and resulting in a notable shift to PHEVs, which has increased ever since. However BEVs are far from dead, with a notable return spotted.

Chinese OEM models accounted for almost every fifth new PHEV entering the Western European PHEV market during the final quarter of the year, which was double the total Sino-brand new model share across all fuels during the same quarter (8%).

Fig. 07d: Chinese OEM market share by drivetrain W-European New Passenger Car Registrations by drivetrain

Chinese BEVs accounted for a high single-digit market share of the respective total BEV-only market during the closing quarter of the year, while non-plug-conventional ICE models witnessed the lowest share of the respectie drivetain with a low single-digit share (including HEV and MHEV).

However, all three drivetrains witnessed consistent sequential quarterly gains over the past five conservative quarters, according to the study.

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Source: Schmidt Automotive Research 

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*Western Europe 18 Markets: EU Member States prior to the 2004 enlargement plus EFTA markets Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, plus UK