Europe saw the benefits of Chinese cars

In Europe, they found a positive aspect from the participation of Chinese automakers in auto shows. Secretary General of the International Organization of Automobile Manufacturers Francois Roudier told Reuters about this a few days before the start of the Paris Motor Show 2026.

He said: "The emergence of Chinese brands has helped revive auto shows after interest from some traditional manufacturers waned." The 2026 Paris Motor Show, which starts on October 12, will feature 20 Chinese auto brands. This is a record number: the delegation will be twice as large as at the last exhibition in 2024. The list includes 212, Aito, BYD, Changan, Chery, Denza, Forthing, Foton, GAC, Geely, Jaecoo, Leapmotor, Li Auto, Lotus, Lynk & Co, Maxus, Omoda, Smart, Xpeng and Zeekr.

Chinese brands accounted for 10.7 percent of the European market in the second quarter, according to Schmidt Automotive Research. A year earlier, the figure was 5.7 percent. This is higher than the share of Japanese competitors that appeared in Europe in the 1970s.

Two years ago, the European Union imposed tariffs on all-electric cars made in China. China responded by expanding its range to include models with internal combustion engines and plug-in hybrids. In the second quarter, Chinese brands accounted for more than 26 percent of the Western European plug-in hybrid market. Two years earlier, the figure was just 2.2 percent. Now the European auto industry is pushing for tariffs on Chinese plug-in hybrids.

As they compete for market share with Chinese rivals, European automakers are also looking to capitalize on their growth. They sell them production capacity in underutilized factories and use their technology in the field of electric vehicles. For example, Stellantis has entered into a partnership with the Chinese state-owned company Dongfeng. According to international experts, Europeans are playing a kind of double game.

“People have been buying cars for years, and now manufacturers have to sell them,” Francois Roudier explained the current situation in the global car market.