Spain's roads are about to look very different — meet the next wave of Chinese brands

© A. Krivonosov

The Spanish car market will become even more Chinese in 2026. More than two dozen brands from China already operate in the country, and another eight manufacturers are expected to arrive within the year. Most are coming in through electric cars and plug-in hybrids — that is where European buyers are quickest to try new names.

Changan will enter Spain through its Deepal sub-brand. It is one of China's largest carmakers, with more than 30 million vehicles produced and sold worldwide. For Europe, the company is preparing the electric SUVs Deepal S05 and S07. Both bet on connected services, driver assistance and an architecture tuned to local tastes.

Denza is a pricier story. The brand began as a joint venture between BYD and Mercedes and is now BYD's luxury arm. The Denza Z9 GT will lead the Spanish launch, aimed at premium German rivals. The car will be offered as both a full EV and a plug-in hybrid. The executive minivan Denza D9 is expected in Europe later.

Exlantix is Chery's premium project, tied to the EXEED family. In Europe the brand will operate under its own name and bet on tech-rich sedans and SUVs. Expected models include the Exlantix ES, ET and the sporty ES GT, shown at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show.

GAC will arrive through its electric Aion family. Guangzhou Automobile Group is one of China's largest carmakers and a long-time partner of international brands. Spain will see the Aion V and Aion UT: models for the urban and compact EV segment, where competition is already getting especially crowded.

Geely is a name Europeans know better than they think. The group owns Volvo, Polestar, Lynk & Co and Lotus and holds a stake in Mercedes. Now Geely is entering Spain under its own badge.

The first major launch will be the electric SUV Geely EX5. The company is also developing the E5 with a range above 500 km and the plug-in hybrid Starray EM-i, with an ICE supplied by Horse Powertrain.

GWM, or Great Wall Motors, is returning after a pause. Known for SUVs and pickups, the company plans to bring two lines to Spain at once: Haval for crossovers and Ora for compact urban EVs with a more expressive design. For GWM, this is part of a wider global reset.

Lepas is another Chery brand, but positioned differently — between the mainstream and premium tiers. The Lepas L8 should land first in Spain — a plug-in hybrid SUV with a claimed combined range of up to 1,300 km. The L4 and L6 are expected to follow, with hybrid and electric versions.

Zeekr has already started operations in Spain, but 2026 should be the year it digs in. The brand belongs to Geely Group and is aiming at Tesla, BMW, Mercedes and Audi in the premium EV segment. The Spanish line-up includes the Zeekr 001 and 7GT sedans and liftbacks, plus the Zeekr 7X SUV and the compact Zeekr X.

Chinese brands are arriving with more than just low prices. They bring batteries, screens, fast charging, rich equipment and, more and more often, premium ambitions. The question for Spanish buyers is no longer whether Chinese cars will appear on the roads. They are already here. The question is which of these new names will stick around.