Three out of five plug-in hybrids are Chinese
China's top brands find their commercial space in the State
BarcelonaAccording to data fromAnfaco, the Spanish automotive industry association, three out of every five plug-in hybrid cars registered between January and May 2025 in Spain are from Chinese brands. This surprising leadership is based on the commercial strength of models such as the BYD Seal U DM-i, with almost 4,000 units registered during the first months of the year, the also Chinese MG HS, with 1,900 units delivered, and the plug-in hybrid version of the Jaecoo 7, with 1. No European car can keep up with the commercial pace of the Chinese. Only the Toyota C-HR has been able to face the challenge posed by Chinese manufacturers.
The significant growth of Chinese cars in the segment is explained by the fact that plug-in hybrid cars or PHEVs do not have to pay the extraordinary trade tariffs approved by the EU at the end of last year, which allows them to offer more attractive prices than those of other manufacturers. Without going any further, the growth of Chinese manufacturers in the plug-in hybrid vehicle segment during the first months of the year throughout Europe is 546% compared to the same dates in 2024, according to data from the consultancy firm Jato, while the growth in the sale of pure Chinese electric cars has been 5
The other element that explains the great growth of Chinese plug-in hybrids is the improvement in their autonomy in 100% electric mode, since many models place the approved electric autonomy of their plug-in hybrid cars above 90 kilometers, which allows orPtar to the highest commercial discount bracket of the Moves III plan, which can reach a discount of up to 7,000 euros.
Finally, it's worth noting that the plug-in hybrid segment is not the area where European manufacturers have devoted most of their efforts. Manufacturers such as Volkswagen or Renault, for example, have devoted a large part of their development resources to fully electric cars, such as the new ID3 or ID4 or the brand new R5, for example, ceding leadership in the hybrid segment to Chinese manufacturers.
