Before the rise of Chinese vehicles in Europe, the European Union decided, last October, to increase customs tasks to stop this wave. In fact, in 2023, China became the main global car exporter, with around 1.2 million internationally sold electric vehicles.
If the market share of Chinese (electrical or thermal) vehicles reached 3.6 % in Europe in July 2024, Chinese manufacturers mainly point to two types of markets, as Matthias Schmidt explains: Nordic regions and countries from southern Europe.
Norway, at the top of the Chinese market share
First the Nordic markets because they are smaller and have more electric cars. Government policies promote this trend.
Norway is the best example. In January 2025, All-Electric represented 95.8% of the new records, an incomparable level in the world. By way of comparison, the participation of electricity in Europe was 13.6% in 2024, according to the manufacturers lobby (acea).
Norway has not imposed customs duties to Chinese electric vehicles, unlike the European Union. It is in the first position of European countries in which market share is the largest in 2024 for Chinese brands, with almost 10% of new Chinese sales sales in Norway in just five years, according to data from the data of the Country Federation Road (OFV), published on Thursday.
Southern Europe sensitive to competitive prices
The other main objective, according to the Schmidt Automotive Research survey, is the market in southern Europe, especially Italy and Spain.
In this area, the market share of Chinese vehicles reached 3.4% in 2024. Consumers are often more price sensitive, with a lower income available than in northern Europe. Therefore, they are interesting objectives for Chinese manufacturers who offer competitive prices.
Sales not only refer to electric cars. In Italy, DR Motors reached 2% market share in the new car sector in 2024, with almost exclusively compact models with thermal motor.
France and Germany more complicated to aim
The United Kingdom also remains solid, with a market share of 5.4%, well above average, thanks to the high acceptance of Asian models. In 2024, almost one in three (31.5%) vehicle registered in the United Kingdom came from a Chinese, Korean or Japanese manufacturer, the double that Germany, explains the study of Schmidt Automotive Research. The United Kingdom also owes its performance to the popularity of the MG brand, owned by SAIC, which represented three of the four models of Chinese brands delivered last year.
Large markets such as France and Germany are more difficult to penetrate. In France, the market share of Chinese manufacturers amounted to 1.28% in the first half of 2024. A significantly equivalent to that of Germany.
The main French and German manufacturers continue to dominate these markets, with a quality of distribution networks and a value for money that remains decisive factors for buyers. In addition, to benefit from tax incentives in France, an electric vehicle in Europe must be assembled.
Source: BFM TV
