Chinese carmakers sold 97,639 vehicles in Europe in August, more than double the year-earlier figure, giving them a record 11.7% share of the market, according to data cited by Chinese outlet D1EV. The surge was led by BYD, whose European sales jumped 131% to 26,103 units, making it the best-selling Chinese brand in the region for the month.
Chery followed with 24,332 sales, up 210%, while MG, the brand owned by SAIC, ranked third among Chinese marques with 21,132 sales, a 32% increase. Overall European new-car registrations rose 4.6% year on year to 835,400 units in August, with battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) surging 52% to 245,120 units, capturing 29% of the market, up from 20% a year earlier.
China becomes Germany's top auto import source
Germany imported about 175,000 passenger cars from China in the first seven months of 2026, a 120.9% surge that made China its largest source of imported cars for the first time, according to the German Federal Statistical Office. That accounted for 13.8% of Germany's total new-car imports, edging out the Czech Republic (173,000) and Spain (157,000).
The figures come as European policymakers debate how to respond to the influx of Chinese EVs. In a meeting with the German auto industry association and Mercedes-Benz CEO Kang Linsong, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao called on the EU to keep its auto market open and avoid discriminatory or protectionist measures, while supporting Chinese investment in Europe. The EU has been discussing localisation policies and has asked China to limit hybrid exports.
BMW CEO Milan Nedeljkovic said Europe should respond to competition from affordable Chinese cars through voluntary price agreements rather than additional tariffs, arguing that tariffs would raise consumer costs and risk trade retaliation. Mercedes-Benz production chief Michael Schiebe warned employees at its Sindelfingen plant that two German factories—one vehicle plant and one powertrain plant—could close unless costs are cut.
CATL starts trial production in Hungary
In a separate development, CATL began trial production at its new cell plant in Debrecen, Hungary, on September 22. The trial run is meant to calibrate and validate equipment and processes ahead of full production. The facility, CATL's largest overseas base, has a planned total capacity of 100 GWh.
CATL also revealed that it has developed a "Tall" battery designed for US full-size pickup trucks, with power output tailored to their high demands. The battery is being tested by an American automaker and would enter the US market through a technology-licensing model, according to the Financial Times.
Meanwhile, US battery startup EnerVenue chose Changzhou, China, for its first factory, abandoning a planned investment in Kentucky. Its CEO cited China's advantages in supply-chain completeness, engineering talent, equipment coordination, and manufacturing costs.
