Chinese carmakers continue to accelerate their presence across Europe, steadily carving out a larger slice of the market. Once regarded as niche entrants, they now account for a 6.8 percent share of total European sales in October, with powerhouses like SAIC and BYD leading the charge while Tesla’s momentum falters.

Chinese Brands Gain Ground

In that month alone, around 75,000 vehicles from Chinese brands were sold across the European Union, the UK, and EFTA nations, which include Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

SAIC enjoyed a particularly strong month, with sales soaring from 17,552 in October last year to 23,860 this October. Across the January-October period, its sales have also risen 26.6 percent from 197,686 to 250,250 units.

Read: BYD’s European Expansion Is About to Explode

BYD is also enjoying a surge in demand and has almost triple Tesla’s sales. In October, the company sold a total of 17,470 vehicles across the region, a 206.8 percent rise from 5,695 last October. Year-to-date, its sales have increased by a monumental 285 percent, from 35,949 to 138,390 units.

Tesla’s Bloodbath

Things are not looking so pretty for Tesla. In October, its European sales slipped 48.5 percent from 13,519 units in the same month last year to just 6,964 in 2025. That means it fell even behind Porsche, which itself recorded a 26 percent sales decline but still usurped Tesla with 7,653 sales. Through the first ten months of the year, the American brand’s local sales have fallen 29.6 percent to 180,688.

Of the new cars sold by Chinese brands across the region in October, 36 percent were battery-electric vehicles. Of these, the small BYD Dolphin was the best-seller.

EU + EFTA + UK New Car Sales

Europe Sales Rise

Across Europe, new car registrations have edged up 1.4 percent, with battery-electric vehicles now holding a 16.4 percent share.

In the first ten months of 2025, 1,473,447 new battery-electric cars were registered across the EU. This growth owes much to the four largest markets, including Germany (+39.4%), Belgium (+10.6%), the Netherlands (+6.6%), and France (+5.3%), which together make up 62 percent of the total. In October alone, year-on-year battery-electric registrations rose by 38.6 percent.

Hybrid-electric cars continue to dominate as the most popular powertrain, holding a 34.6 percent share of the market. Between January and October 2025, registrations reached 3,109,362 units, led by Spain (+27.1%), France (+26.3%), Germany (+10.3%), and Italy (+8.9%).

Plug-in hybrids are also on the upswing, totaling 819,201 registrations, a 43.2 percent increase over last year. Demand has been especially strong in Spain (+109.6%), Italy (+76.5%), and Germany (+63.4%). Plug-in hybrids now represent 9.1 percent of all EU registrations, up from 7 percent a year ago.

Petrol-powered cars still hold 27.4 percent of the market, though their share has dropped from 34 percent last year as combustion sales continue to contract. Through October, petrol registrations fell 18.3 percent across major markets, with France down 32.3 percent, Germany 22.5 percent, Italy 16.9 percent, and Spain 13.7 percent.

Diesel continues its downward trend too, shrinking by 24.5 percent to a 9.2 percent market share.

One year after introducing the AUDI sub-brand for China, Audi and its joint-venture partner SAIC are already gearing up for their second production model, following the market launch of the E5 Sportback in September.

The momentum continues with the reveal of the new AUDI E SUV concept at the Guangzhou Auto Show, a preview of an electric SUV expected to reach Chinese showrooms in 2026.

More: Of Course, The New AUDI E5 EV Is Ridiculously Cheap In China

The concept feels nearly production-ready, carrying over the same design cues as its low-slung stablemate. Signature styling cues include the wraparound lights on both ends and the clean surfacing with sculpted fenders.

The electric SUV also features short overhangs, flush door handles, and camera-based mirrors, with fin-shaped C-pillars adding a distinctive profile.

The AUDI emblem now sits prominently on the nose, and at 5,057 mm (199.1 inches) in length with a 3,060 mm (120.5 inches) wheelbase, the concept nearly matches the footprint of the combustion-powered Q7.

The company hasn’t revealed the interior, though it’s likely to mirror the E5 Sportback’s layout, centered around a vast 27-inch 4K display stretching across most of the dashboard.

The concept also includes the AUDI 360 Driving Assist System, an advanced driver-assistance suite developed specifically for Chinese traffic patterns and road conditions.

The AUDI E SUV is built on the Advanced Digitized Platform (ADP), developed jointly with SAIC. Power comes from dual electric motors delivering a combined 671 hp (500 kW / 680 PS) to a quattro all-wheel-drive system.

According to the company, it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (0–62 mph) in roughly five seconds.

The 800-volt battery pack holds 109 kWh and promises a CLTC range of over 700 km (435 miles). A rapid 10-minute charge can add about 320 km (199 miles), though the figure trails slightly behind the smaller, slipperier E5 Sportback, which stretches to 770 km (478 miles) per charge.

A Stretched A6 e-tron For China

Sharing the spotlight in Guangzhou, the A6L e-tron stretches Audi’s EV presence in the region. This version, built for Chinese buyers, gains 132 mm (5.2 inches) in wheelbase and a subtly revised front end featuring a black trim strip that links the main headlights across a covered grille.

More: Audi’s China-Only EV Deserves An RS Treatment

The cabin features a market-specific infotainment system and enhanced driver assistance features. It runs on an 800-volt electrical system with a 107 kWh battery offering a CLTC range of 770 km (479 miles).

Production takes place in Changchun under the Audi-FAW joint venture, alongside the Q6L e-tron and Q6L Sportback e-tron.

AUDI’s leadership describes this expansion as part of a sweeping realignment in China. CEO Gernot Döllner called it “the largest model initiative in our company’s history,” noting that five new locally built models have already launched in the latter half of 2025.

Audi China President Johannes Roscheck emphasized the brand’s dual strategy of combining two powertrains and two partners to secure long-term growth. In his words, “local innovation is now part of our foundation,” as the company aims to balance its legacy in combustion engines with a steady acceleration toward electrification.

The plan carries through 2026, with several new models already slated to join the China-specific portfolio.