Chinese Automakers Hit Record 12% European Market Share on Hybrid Demand

Chinese automakers captured a record share of Europe's new-car market in August, driven by demand for affordable hybrid vehicles that sidestep steep EU tariffs on electric-vehicle imports. Brands including BYD Co. accounted for nearly 12% of total new-car sales in the region, according to Dataforce. They made up one in four hybrid sales and one in three plug-in hybrid sales during the month. Battery and hybrid vehicle demand jumped 27% in August, lifting the overall market 4.6%. Chinese hybrids currently avoid the tariffs applied to China-built EVs, though Germany is preparing measures that may impose similar duties, Handelsblatt reported. In the UK, where no additional EV tariffs apply, Chinese brands exceed one in five new cars sold. In Germany, they held 6.4% market share in August.