Electric vehicle demand continued to boost the European car market in May, with Chinese brands further seizing market share.

Data released by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association on Tuesday showed that the growth of the European car market in May continued to be supported by the demand for electrified cars, offsetting the sharp decline in sales of petrol and diesel cars, and also allowing Chinese brands to further expand their market share. Car registration numbers, seen as a substitute for sales volume, showed that new car registrations in the European Union, UK, and European Free Trade Association grew by 3.6% to 1,152,523 vehicles in May. Registrations have increased by 4.5% compared to the same period in 2025. Electrified cars were the main drivers of market growth. Registrations of pure electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and hybrid electric vehicles increased by 39.1%, 13.2%, and 8.2% respectively, accounting for more than two-thirds of all new car registrations in May. The association stated: "Consumer demand for various electrification technologies remains strong in major European markets, continuing to benefit the market, while newly introduced or revised tax incentives and incentives support this trend." In contrast, demand for traditional internal combustion engine cars has significantly softened, with sales of petrol and diesel cars falling by around 19%. In the process of transformation in the automotive industry, European traditional car manufacturers have lost some market share. Registrations for Renault, Stellantis, and Volkswagen decreased by 1% to 3%, reflecting increased market competition. In contrast, Chinese companies recorded significant growth. ZPeng's vehicle sales soared by 465.1% in May, while Chery and BYD saw increases of 244.1% and 136.6% respectively. Among other companies, Geely and SAIC saw growth of 12.6% and 13.9% respectively. Tesla continued its rebound for the fourth consecutive month, with registrations growing by 107.9% to 28,610 vehicles, showing strong recovery after more than a year of decline.