11:52 13-02-2026

Chinese automakers gain ground in European markets, Norway leads

Chinese automakers are making significant inroads into the European market, though their growth rates vary considerably from country to country. In Norway, a pioneer in electric vehicle adoption, nearly one in seven new cars sold in 2025—13.7%—originates from China. This highlights the growing appeal of Chinese brands even among discerning Scandinavian consumers.

A similar trend is evident in the United Kingdom, where Chinese brands accounted for 10.6% of new car sales in 2025. Spain followed closely with a 10.2% share, showing that buyers there are also embracing Chinese vehicles.

Excluding Sweden's Volvo, which is now formally owned by China's Geely Holding Group, Chinese-made cars represent about 6% of total sales within the European Union. Including Volvo raises that figure to 8.4%.

Germany, however, tells a different story. Despite high expectations and aggressive marketing from some major Chinese companies, the German market remains relatively closed. The share of Chinese cars there is well below the European average, standing at just 2.4%. The reasons for this are not entirely clear, but it may stem from the unique characteristics of Germany's automotive market, which has historically favored traditional European brands and tends to be conservative when it comes to new models.