In Q2 2026 the standout auto trend is rapid Chinese brand growth in Europe. In May their regional market share first exceeded 10%; nearly 25% in new hybrids.
Country radar signals (China export models): • Chery: Europe sales +322% in April; possible capacity expansion including a Nissan Sunderland (UK) line. • BYD: UK EV market leader (+124% YoY); talks on a Dresden site; ~3,000 own EU charging stations planned for 2026. • SAIC (MG): first European plant in NW Spain (Galicia) — ~€200m, ~120k vehicles/year by 2028, up to 70% local content for EU rules of origin. • Geely: interest in a Ford Valencia shop; US barrier workarounds via Volvo (South Carolina) as a next-stage hypothesis.
Canada: after cutting the Chinese EV tariff to 6.1% (quota), showroom and hiring activity surged (BYD, Zeekr, Chery).
Market Entry Readiness takeaway: Chinese OEMs scale “export → local manufacturing → local infrastructure (charging)” wherever tariffs and origin rules block pure imports. For teams partnering with China, this is a trade-barrier playbook, not only a product story.
Source: Global Business Monitoring, issue 2/2026 (HSE Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs). Adapted for Corporate APAC Desk / Country radar.