Chinese pivot back to BEVs despite tariffs remaining in place across much of Western Europe

Exclusive: According to the latest European Electric Car Study – Full Year 2025 – published this week, Chinese OEMs witnessed BEVs once again become their most popular powertrains across Western Europe during Q4 2025. The return can be partly attributed to almost 40% of regional Chinese-OEMs landing in non-EU-tariff-impacted Norway and the UK during 2025, while 14% of volumes in the final two months of 2025 landed in Italy, thanks to state purchase subsidies not excluding Chinese models, which is the case in France.   It was the first time BEVs led in six quarters, and the first quarter since anti-subsidy EU tariffs were implemented. However, the PHEV volume growth trend remains unbroken. The final quarter of the year witnessed PHEVs achieve a record 24% Chinese-model powertrain split, while three of the top-ten PHEV models registered across the region in 2025 were Chinese, including the number one position. Full details, data, forecasts, trends and background information can be found in our industry-leading studies, providing key context and trusted by stakeholders breaching industry divides. 

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