Preliminary market data shows that in May 2024, BYD sold 31,576 vehicles in the European market, a year-on-year increase of 141%, positioning it to surpass SAIC Motor’s MG brand for the first time as the top-selling Chinese brand in Europe that month. MG recorded sales of 30,299 units in the same period, up 15% year-over-year, while Chery Group followed closely with 30,043 units sold, surging 243% year-on-year. These figures cover 98% of the markets in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Final sales data from Portugal and Cyprus have not yet been released, leaving room for potential shifts in rankings. In total, Chinese brands sold 121,030 new vehicles in Europe in May, a 97% year-on-year increase, capturing a record-high market share of 10.7%—a significant rise from 9.8% in April and 5.6% a year earlier. Overall European auto market sales reached 1.13 million units in May, growing only 3.4% year-over-year. By powertrain type, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sales soared 202% year-over-year to 39,222 units, while battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales rose 116% to 39,814 units—leaving a minimal gap between the two segments. Within Chinese brand sales, PHEVs accounted for 32% of total volume (up from 21% a year earlier), and BEVs represented 33% (up from 30%). Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) sales jumped 177% year-over-year to 26,469 units, increasing their share to 22%. In contrast, internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle sales declined 26% to 13,389 units, reducing their share to just 11%. The rapid growth of PHEVs is partly attributed to the European Union’s upcoming additional tariffs on fully electric and extended-range electric vehicles, set to take effect in November 2024. Currently, PHEVs are exempt from these tariffs, though the EU is considering extending the additional duties—which could reach as high as 35.3% on top of the existing 10% base tariff—to include PHEVs as well. By model, the BYD Atto 2 compact SUV emerged as the best-selling Chinese model in Europe in May, with 10,232 units sold. Of these, 8,855 were PHEV variants, making it the top-selling PHEV across all segments and ranking eighth in the compact SUV category. The Leapmotor T03 micro EV became the best-selling Chinese BEV in Europe, with 5,830 units delivered—ranking eighth among all electric vehicles and third in the micro-car segment. Additionally, Leapmotor achieved sales of 9,968 units in May, a staggering 487% year-over-year increase—the highest growth rate among mainstream brands. Geely Group reported sales of 8,414 units, up 62% year-over-year. According to Dataforce, May marked the second-highest monthly sales volume for Chinese brands in 2024, trailing only March’s record of 149,094 units.