Overview
- In June 2026 plug‑in vehicles (battery EVs plus plug‑in hybrids) accounted for about 33.8% of new‑car registrations in Europe, driven by a 51% year‑on‑year jump in BEV sales.
- BYD doubled its European share in H1 2026 to roughly 2.4%, matching Tesla for market share and narrowly overtaking it in absolute registrations for the period.
- Chinese automakers captured about 34% of Europe’s plug‑in hybrid volumes in June after shifting product mixes to avoid the EU’s 2024 countervailing duties on China‑made BEVs.
- Manufacturers and suppliers are responding with production moves and partnerships in Europe, including BYD’s local plant in Hungary and talks between legacy groups and Chinese firms, while incumbents face margin pressure and restructuring plans.
- Markets are diverging globally: China’s passenger‑car sales fell sharply in H1 2026, the US is seeing a hybrid boom led by Toyota, Hyundai and Honda, and the European shift is raising the prospect of new trade and industrial‑policy measures.