Tariffs Couldn't Stop Them: Chinese EVs Have Won Over European Drivers

Chinese brands like BYD, MG and Chery now account for a record 15% of EV sales in Europe — proof the EU's tariffs failed to close the affordability gap.

Chinese carmakers keep pressing their advance on Europe’s electric-vehicle market. According to Bloomberg, brands from China have crossed a record 15% of EV sales in Europe for the first time — and that is despite the bloc’s earlier attempt to rein them in with tariffs.

The main driver of growth is not just the low price. BYD, MG, Chery, Geely and other marques are rapidly expanding their line-ups and dealer networks, offering buyers what European brands often charge more for: long range, generous equipment, hybrid versions and short development cycles for new models. JATO had previously noted that, even after the duties came in, registrations of Chinese EVs in Europe kept growing faster than the market: in April 2025 they jumped 59% year on year.

For European marques this is a worrying signal. They are already pouring billions into new platforms, yet their Chinese rivals arrive with ready-made batteries, software and far shorter development cycles. That is why Stellantis, Volkswagen and others increasingly use China as a manufacturing and technology base themselves, not merely as a sales market.

The EU’s tariffs did not erase the key gap — affordability. While the buyer is comparing price, equipment and warranty, the brand’s origin slips into the background. Especially in the EV segment, where loyalty to traditional combustion-engine names no longer counts for as much.

If the Chinese share of EVs settles at around 15%, this will not be a spike but a new balance of power. Europe is no longer simply defending its market against China — it is learning to compete with it on home ground.