We appear to be in the era of the Chinese EV, as their electric cars seem to be taking most of the world by storm. While not officially available in America, Europe is seeing a boom in sales of Chinese vehicles.
In fact, a report from the British publication The Guardian states that sales of these cars have reached a record high, driven by strong demand for them, as well as low tariffs, particularly in the UK. But it isn’t just in the UK where they appear to be doing well.
Other countries such as Italy are experiencing a rapid surge in sales of Chinese EVs. Many are priced much lower than competitors from Western manufacturers, and the advances made in the technology behind them have been incredibly impressive. But there is a worry that this could sting European manufacturers.
There have been growing calls for quotas and higher tariffs to protect the European car companies from the onslaught of Chinese cars. But, as The Guardian published, there has been no shortage of demand for these machines, with the likes of BYD, Chery, SAIC and Xpeng all looking to Europe for their big export wins.
How Have Chinese EVs Been Doing in Europe?
There is no denying the popularity of the cars. The Guardian stated that the share of electric cars sold by Chinese brands rose to 14.2 percent across Western European markets in the first five months of 2026. That is one in every seven battery electric vehicles (BEVs), with the data coming from Schmidt Automotive Research.
That is 171,800 sales, and that is an increase in market share of nearly five percentage points compared to the same period in 2025. Brands such as BYD, Chery, Xpeng and SAIC have all done well off the back of this. They have specifically targeted Europe for exports, given that they currently can’t sell the cars in another big market, the United States, due to tariffs and import costs. China hopes to dominate the global electric vehicle market, and that is putting pressure on Western manufacturers.
Despite some companies rolling back on full EV lineups, tougher emissions targets and regulations are forcing European companies to boost BEV sales. They need to, given the massive influx of Chinese EVs across various countries. The increase in sales comes despite the standard 10 percent import duty, as well as the EU tariffs, which go up to 35,3 percent for EVs made by Chinese companies.
Italy Has Seen a Surge in Chinese EV Sales
Italy currently accounts for a fifth of the total cars sold during the first few months of 2026. However, Schmidt Automotive Research said that that is an anomaly. Leapmotor, a Chinese company, sent thousands of its cheap T03 EVs into the country to take advantage of subsidies from the government. That meant the T03 cost as little as €5,000, which is roughly $5,800. That price puts it far below even the cheapest of cars available in Italy and other European countries.
Incredibly, some 120 models from Chinese manufacturers have been sold in Europe, compared to around 100 from European companies. Some hope, however, comes from the fact that Schmidt said the sales may have already peaked. Chinese companies seem to be focussing on plug-in hybrids now, which could allow European companies to catch up. PHEVs are exempt from the extra tariffs that BEVs have to comply with. There is still a way to go, but European EVs now have a chance to catch up.