In Europe, 20% of electric cars come from China

The emergence of electric cars is boosting the Chinese automotive industry. These figures published by Jato Dynamics once again confirm this trend.

According to the analysis institute JATO Dynamics, Chinese-made cars accounted for 20% of sales on the European electric vehicle market in August. China has thus become the second-largest producer of electric cars for Europe, behind Germany (28% of volume).

For the period January – August 2022, China produced 19% of the electric cars sold in Europe. It is on par with South Korea (19%) and just behind Germany (22%). The French industry is far behind, with only an 8% share. The situation may improve thanks to the Renault Group, which has announced it would produce several electric models in France. The future R5 and R4 will be assembled respectively in Douai and Maubeuge.

The figures shared by JATO include all cars built in China: both those from local manufacturers and those from brands based elsewhere. It is actually the latter that make up the majority of the volumes (82% in August). Nearly half of the Chinese cars sold in Europe are Tesla. The Dacia Spring also plays an important role in this trend.

The return of protectionist measures in the face of the Chinese automotive industry threat?

The rise of the Chinese automotive industry raises questions about protectionism. The United States has already decided to exclude from bonuses all electric models produced abroad. In France, no such decision has been made yet, but the idea is gaining ground. During the presentation of the 2023 finance bill, Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire shared his thoughts on the subject. He asked the following question: “Shouldn’t we reserve our ecological bonus for cars built in France or in Europe? We need to consider this.”

Read also: Chinese cars: Leapmotor sets out to conquer France