Chinese automakers built nearly 1 in 10 passenger cars sold in Europe last month, a record share that caps a year of rapid growth led by brisk sales of hybrid and battery-powered vehicles.
With December¡¯s 9.5% share of the European car market, Chinese brands outsold South Korean rivals including Kia on a quarterly basis for the first time, based on figures from researcher Dataforce. BYD and its peers are poised to make further inroads as trade barriers fall and a Chinese export push accelerates.
The advance was strongest for the electrified cars that account for the bulk of Europe¡¯s growth. Chinese automakers used their competitive edge in battery technology to win customers for electric vehicles and hybrid-electric vehicles from Spain to Greece, Italy and the United Kingdom.
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