BYD expands as Chinese EVs hit 15%

Chinese automakers took more than 15% of Europe’s electric-vehicle sales in April, crossing that threshold for the first time as BYD, MG and Chery kept gaining ground despite EU tariffs. Dataforce said sales of fully electric cars from Chinese brands including BYD and Chery more than doubled from a year earlier to 38,281 units in April. Chinese brands also accounted for nearly 29% of Europe’s plug-in hybrid sales that month, according to Bloomberg’s report of the Dataforce figures. ### How did Chinese brands get past the tariff barrier? The European Commission’s definitive countervailing duties on battery-electric vehicles from China took effect on Oct. 30, 2024, after the bloc said Chinese state subsidies threatened injury to EU producers. The duties range from 17% to 35.3% for most affected automakers, according to the Commission and related summaries of the rules. (carsifu.my) April’s sales figures show those measures have not stopped demand. Bloomberg reported that Chinese brands have kept winning cost-conscious buyers as European manufacturers struggled to offer affordable EVs and match some Chinese rivals on technology. In Britain, where imported EVs are not subject to those EU duties, Chinese marques have been especially strong, with brands such as Chery’s Jaecoo and Omoda gaining traction. (trade.ec.europa.eu) ### Why is BYD central to this push? BYD has combined rising sales with a broader product rollout in Europe. The company launched its premium Denza brand in the region in April 2025 around Milan Design Week, saying the first Z9GT model would reach European showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2025. BYD adviser Alfredo Altavilla said at the launch that Denza would carry technology later introduced into core BYD models. (carsifu.my) January 2026 registrations also underscored BYD’s growth. ACEA data cited by Dow Jones showed new registrations for BYD models in Europe rose to 18,242 in January from 6,884 a year earlier, and BYD outsold Tesla in the region that month. That expansion has made Europe more important for Chinese carmakers as a price war in China pressures margins at home. (marketscreener.com) ### What does local production in Europe change? BYD has been building production capacity inside Europe as a way to reduce its exposure to import duties. Reports on the company’s European manufacturing plans said its first plant in Hungary was due to start up in October, with a second site in Turkey scheduled for March 2026; once fully operational, the two plants were described as having combined annual capacity of 500,000 vehicles. (marketscreener.com) Other Chinese groups are also looking for manufacturing footholds through partnerships. Bloomberg reported that Stellantis has struck factory-sharing deals with Chinese automakers including Leapmotor and Dongfeng, while other manufacturers have discussed similar arrangements that could deepen Chinese production ties in the region. ### Why are European carmakers part of the story too? (marketscreener.com) The competitive pressure is not limited to direct imports by Chinese brands. The Financial Times reported that Western carmakers have also been using China-based production to ship lower-cost vehicles back into their home markets, blurring the line between trade defense and supply-chain dependence. That has left European industrial policy trying to curb Chinese imports while parts of the industry still rely on China-made models to compete on price. (carsifu.my) Britain offers a separate example of how market structure matters. Auto Trader Chief Executive Nathan Coe told Bloomberg that British buyers are less loyal to brands than consumers in some other European markets, helping newer Chinese entrants gain share faster there. ### What comes next for BYD and its rivals? BYD said Denza’s Z9GT would arrive in European showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2025, with other models to follow, while the company’s regional factory buildout is intended to support broader distribution. (ft.com) The next milestones to watch are plant ramp-ups in Hungary and Turkey, additional Denza launches, and fresh monthly registration data from ACEA and sales tracking from Dataforce. (marketscreener.com) (carsifu.my)