{
  "id": 122261,
  "title": "Europe’s new EV power struggle sees Chinese giants seize record market share",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/europes-new-ev-power-struggle-sees-chinese-giants-seize-record-market",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-04T07:26:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SCMP Business",
    "slug": "scmp-business",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3362905/europes-new-ev-power-struggle-sees-chinese-giants-seize-record-market-share"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "European automakers face a heated rivalry with Chinese EV manufacturers and Tesla as they push into the region's growing market for battery-powered vehicles. Chinese brands, such as BYD, Xpeng, and Geely, have witnessed their market share soar to a record 10.7 percent in the second quarter of 2026 across 18 Western European countries, up from 5.7 percent a year ago. Meanwhile, Tesla has also seen its market share climb to 2.6 percent, up from 1.7 percent a year earlier. In contrast, US-based brands experienced a decline in their regional market share to 6.5 percent. Analysts from Schmidt Automotive Research attribute Tesla's aggressive pricing strategy, which brings prices below €30,000 (US$34,522) in many markets, to its success. Chinese car manufacturers have shifted their focus to Europe due to sluggish domestic demand and US trade barriers. BYD, the Chinese market leader, has launched two luxury models under its Denza brand and plans to install 3,000 \"flash-charging\" stations in Europe by next March. In May, Leapmotor, a Chinese EV startup, expanded partnerships with European giant Stellantis, resulting in a remarkable 466 percent increase in sales compared to a year earlier. Geely, another major Chinese EV maker, announced plans to acquire a 34 percent stake in a Spanish Ford plant for €221 million to bolster its localization efforts. These developments have collectively contributed to Chinese and US-based manufacturers securing 13.3 percent of the new-car market share in the three months ending in June, up from a mere 0.1 percent a decade ago. This surge has helped fuel the strongest first half for Europe since before the pandemic, with 6.44 million new passenger vehicles registered, a 5.9 percent year-on-year increase. Meanwhile, European brands and manufacturers from Japan and South Korea have struggled, posting their lowest quarterly market shares in at least two years. Chinese EV exports have surged 131 percent year-on-year, driven by a 182 percent growth in plug-in electric car exports, despite upcoming EU regulatory challenges. Battery EV exports have also risen by 106 percent, according to a Fitch Ratings report.",
  "summary": "Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers and Tesla are locked in a tug of war across western Europe, taking advantage of rising consumer demand for battery-powered vehicles as volatile oil prices drive buyers away from traditional models. Chinese brands – including BYD to Xpeng – saw their combined market share of new car sales across 18 Western European countries rise to a record 10.7 per cent in…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Fortune",
        "title": "The Danube is running dry, and Europe’s power grid is suffering as a result",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/the-danube-is-running-dry-and-europes-power-grid-is-suffering-as-a",
        "published": "2026-08-03T20:28:33.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}