Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers set a historic milestone in Europe last month, with their EV sales share surpassing 15% for the first time, data showed, as demand remains robust despite EU import tariffs.

Sales of fully electric cars from brands including BYD and Chery more than doubled year-on-year in April to 38,281 units, according to automotive analyst Dataforce. Chinese brands now account for nearly 10% of Europe's total car market and almost 29% of the region's plug-in hybrid sales, marking their rapid expansion from just a few thousand monthly EV sales in 2021.

Driven by competitive pricing and advanced technology, Chinese carmakers are accelerating local production in Europe to strengthen footholds, with BYD building new plants and others partnering with European automakers such as Stellantis to share underused factories.

Industry figures and users have given positive reviews of Chinese NEVs. Steve Young, managing director of a London-based Omoda and Jaecoo dealer, noted a sharp improvement in quality, saying vehicles on show at an auto show in Beijing were comparable to European standards.

"The thing that struck me was universally that the Chinese brands, the product on show, was of a much higher quality than you would have seen seven or eight years ago," he told The Guardian.

A recent survey by Horvath & Partner showed European consumer interest in buying Chinese cars or SUVs rose from 43% to 55% between late 2023 and end-2025, while the share of those ruling out a Chinese purchase halved to 21%.

Rafael Verastegui, a Barcelona-based IT consultancy executive who owns two BYD EVs, described his driving experience as "very positive," praising quiet operation, user-friendly navigation and reliable charging support on a 1,600-kilometer cross-Europe trip.

In an as-told-to essay posted on Business Insider, Verastegui added that Chinese brands bring much-needed competition and innovation to Europe's car market.