Chinese car sales have almost doubled in Europe despite swingeing trade tariffs, delivering a blow to the region’s domestic manufacturers.
The number of cars sold by Chinese companies increased to 509,700 in the first nine months of 2025 – up by 91pc compared with the 266,600 sold in 2024, according to Car Industry Analysis.
This included big jumps in sales by companies such as BYD, Leapmotor, Dongfeng and Chery, which owns the Jaecoo and Omoda brands.
The surge is likely to trigger concern in Brussels after the European Union slapped tariffs of up to 45pc on Chinese electric cars that are shipped to the bloc. This followed an investigation that found they were being unfairly subsidised by Beijing.
Chinese brands have faced an additional tariff of up to 35pc on imports, in addition to the existing tariff of 10pc on foreign cars, since November 2024.
But the sales figures – which cover the EU along with the UK, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland – suggest they have compensated by shifting their focus away from fully electric to hybrids and plug-in hybrids, which accounted for most of the increase, according to Car Industry Analysis.
Saic Motor, which owns MG, sold the most, accounting for 226,047 cars, or an increase of 21pc on the previous year. The sales of Leapmotor, which has a partnership with Vauxhall owner Stellantis, surged by 8,600pc.
Skyworth, BAIC, Dongfeng and BYD notched up increases of 582pc, 532pc, 430pc and 305pc respectively.