In the first four months of 2026, nearly 3.8 million new cars were registered in the European Union market, which is an increase of 4.2% compared to the same period last year. The most notable trends were the sharp increase in the share of Chinese brands and the decline in demand for gasoline-powered cars.
This is reported by Finway
Chinese Manufacturers Strengthen Their Positions in Europe
From January to April 2026, the share of Chinese manufacturers in the EU market rose from 3.2% to nearly 6%. When including data from the UK and EFTA countries, this figure reaches 7.3%. The largest player among Chinese companies remains SAIC Motor, the owner of the MG brand, which sold over 77,000 cars, an increase of 10.4% compared to last year. The company BYD also showed significant growth — its sales increased by 152.9%, totaling over 71,800 vehicles. The manufacturer Chery (brands Omoda, Jaecoo, Jetour) demonstrated impressive growth: over 48,300 cars sold, which is 267.1% more than a year ago.
“The most significant trend this year has been the sharp rise of Chinese automakers, who managed to double their market share in the EU from 3.2% to around 6% (and considering the markets of the UK and EFTA countries, this share reaches 7.3%) during the first four months (January-April).”
Growing Popularity of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
European consumers are increasingly opting for more environmentally friendly transportation. In April 2026, sales of fully electric vehicles (BEV) rose by 37.7%, securing them 20.6% of the market. At the same time, classic hybrids (HEV) were in the highest demand, accounting for 36.9% of April sales.
Sales of gasoline-powered cars decreased by 16.3%, while diesel vehicles saw a decline of 17.1%. As a result, gasoline and diesel cars accounted for less than 30% of all new cars sold in the EU in April.
It is worth noting that in Ukraine, the company Uklon is starting to test remotely controlled cars.