Chinese EV brands double European market share, OLX data shows

New data published by OLX Group Prosus N.V. ↘ 3.57% on Monday reveals that electric vehicle demand continues to surge across its European and international marketplaces, with Chinese brands MG and BYD emerging as dominant forces in the transition to electric mobility.

Double- and Triple-Digit Growth

The report, titled "The Great Acceleration: East Meets Electric" and based on marketplace data through June 30, 2026, shows every EV market tracked by OLX Group posting strong year-on-year growth in EV leads. France's La Centrale platform leads at 206%, followed by AutoTrader South Africa at 154.6%, Autovit in Romania at 66%, Standvirtual in Portugal at 60%, and Otomoto in Poland at 34.3%.prnewswire+1

Portugal stands out as the most EV-mature market in the group, with electric vehicles accounting for 14.9% of all leads — nearly double the next closest market.olxgroup

Chinese Brands Accelerate

MG and BYD now rank among the leading Chinese brands in four of the five markets OLX tracks. France recorded the strongest surge in Chinese brand demand, up 276% year-on-year, more than double Romania's 119% increase. In Romania, where EV prices fell nearly 8%, Chinese-made vehicles are widening access to affordable electric cars. In France, Chinese brand demand continues to climb even as EV prices rise 25%.prnewswire+1

The pattern aligns with broader European trends. Chinese marques captured a record 10.9% of the European market in June 2026, on 150,272 registrations — roughly double their share from a year earlier, according to Dataforce figures reported by The Next Web. ACEA data shows battery-electric cars now account for about 20% of EU sales, up from around 15% a year earlier.thenextweb

South Africa presents a different picture. Chinese brands hold their highest share of demand in the OLX group at 7.31%, led by Haval, but just 0.3% of that demand is for EVs — petrol and hybrid SUVs dominate, reflecting local infrastructure constraints.olxgroup

A Structural Shift

"Where EV adoption is accelerating, demand for Chinese automotive brands is accelerating with it," said Christian Gisy, CEO of OLX Group. "The transition to electric mobility is happening faster, and more broadly, because Chinese manufacturers are in it."olxgroup

The findings suggest the EV transition in these markets has moved beyond early-adopter enthusiasm into a durable structural trend — one increasingly shaped by the pricing and availability strategies of Chinese automakers.