For the first time over a full quarter, Chinese automakers outsold Japanese brands in Europe, reports Bloomberg. According to market research DataForce, Chinese-branded cars – mostly hybrids – saw registrations double from a year earlier in September to account for 12.7% of total sales in the region.
By comparison, Japanese manufacturers had a market share of 11.9%, while European brands continue to dominate both for now. Five years ago, Chinese brands accounted for barely 1% of European sales, but brands like BYD and Chery have rapidly estalibshed their positions since then.
This year’s Paris Motor Show saw around 20 brands in attendance showing off their models and announcing expansion plans for Europe. With fuel prices surging upwards in recent months, many Chinese brands are leaning heavily on electrified models to grab a bigger slice of the pie.
