Chinese carmakers outsell Renault, Audi in Europe as plug-in hybrid sales jump 121%

Chinese carmakers outsold Renault and Audi in Europe in August as plug-in hybrids surged, offering buyers cheaper and more flexible alternatives to full-electric cars.

Data from JATO Dynamics showed Chinese brands grabbed 5.5% of Europe’s market, selling over 43,500 vehicles, a 121% jump from last year. That beat Audi’s 41,300 and Renault’s 37,800.

Plug-in hybrid sales in Europe rose 59% to almost 84,000 in August. Chinese brands made the biggest leap, with PHEV sales soaring more than 14-fold to 11,000. Among the top 10 sellers were BYD’s Seal U, Chery’s Jaecoo J7, and SAIC’s MG HS.

Battery-electric vehicles also grew 27% across Europe, outpacing the 5% growth of the wider market. Tesla’s Model Y remained the region’s best-selling EV, but sales tumbled 37% compared with last year.

“There was strong demand for BEVs in August, however a 27% increase is less significant than it looks when you consider how widely they are being promoted,” said Felipe Munoz, analyst at JATO Dynamics.

The surge highlights how Chinese brands are seizing ground in Europe despite EU tariffs on imports. BYD, Chery, and SAIC are already moving to local production to blunt the trade pressure. BYD has pledged to make all EVs for Europe locally by 2028.

For many buyers, plug-in hybrids, combining gasoline and electric power—are an affordable middle ground, helping Chinese automakers carve a new path into Europe’s competitive car market.

Read more on Ford to cut 1,000 Jobs in Cologne as Europe’s EV demand slows