Europe has a serious problem with its automotive industry, which can be summarized in the inability of traditional European manufacturers to face the arrival of brands and models from China, which are more economical and of a perceived quality similar to that of the major French, Italian or German automotive groups.During the first six months of 2026, Chinese brands have managed to register more than 663,000 new cars in Europe, which represents an increase of 107% compared to the first six months of 2025. However, what is most worrying for European manufacturers is that they already hold 9.2% of the total market, with a view to continuing to grow and gain sales percentage in the not-too-distant future.The rise of Chinese manufacturers – who will almost certainly exceed one and a half million units sold in Europe this year or next – is explained by a product that is comparable in terms of quality and design to that of traditional manufacturers, but at a significantly lower price. Despite the tariffs imposed by European administrations to try to curb the growth of Chinese automotive manufacturers, they have managed to circumvent bureaucratic obstacles by opening assembly plants in Europe (as in the case of Ebro, Omoda, and Jaecoo in the Zona Franca of Barcelona, for example) or by limiting the commercial margin of each unit sold to practically non-existent values, which traditional European manufacturers do not want or cannot compete with.MG continues to lead, but feels BYD's breath

MG, the British subsidiary of the state-owned company SAIC Motor, continues to lead the ranking of vehicles sold by brands in Europe with a total of 180,101 units sold during the first six months of the year, with an 18% increase compared to the first half of 2025 and achieving a market share of 2.49% of the total.

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The Ferrari Luce is the controversial first electric vehicle in the history of the Maranello brand. A somewhat eccentric and disruptive model, which did not win the hearts of the brand's followers around the world, but which over the months seems to have found its place in the luxury sports car market.

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The motorcycle market once again features a motorcycle with the Bultaco logo and name, thanks to the impetus of the Leonart Motors brand, based in Mataró. This small Maresme-based brand has created a subsidiary called Bultaco Next SL which is responsible for the commercial rights of the brand created by Paco Bultó in 1953 in Sant Adrià de Besòs, and which operated until its disappearance in 1983. In 2014, there was already a first attempt to revive the brand name, with a newly created company called Bultaco Motors, specializing in electric motorcycles. Despite creating some models with a certain success, such as the Brinco, the venture was not successful and Bultaco Motors ended up closing in 2019.A bet with a Chinese accent

The new roadmap of the promoters of this Bultaco revival includes a business model not very different from that of Ebro, Santana or Galloper. The plan of the new Bultaco involves marketing an already existing motorcycle, the Chinese Chongqing Andes UT 3.5 Rally, which is already sold in our market under the name 300 Rally thanks to the agreement with Leonart from Mataró. This is a trail motorcycle with a power of 28 HP and only 150 kilos of weight, with a price of 3,999 euros, and which can be ridden with the A2 license. It includes as standard a 5-inch TFT digital screen, a front dashcam to record journeys and LED headlights that guarantee good illumination.

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A few weeks ago, the Parliament of Catalonia approved a motion presented by the Comuns parliamentary group and endorsed by the votes of ERC, PSC, Junts, and the CUP to introduce a new vignette payment system for vehicles that circulate daily on the AP-7, an essential communication artery for the country's mobility that has been on the verge of collapse since the lifting of the old toll booths in September 2021.

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According to data from the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT), 85% of vehicles circulating daily on the main access roads to Madrid do so with a single occupant, which generates significant traffic jams in the Spanish capital. One of the objectives of the director of the DGT, the Catalan Pere Navarro, is to reduce the volume of vehicles circulating with a single occupant by promoting shared vehicles for daily commutes, through the promotion of BUS-VAO lanes, that is, vehicles with an average occupancy significantly higher than that of the majority.During this month of August and during the first week of September, the DGT has promoted a new BUS-VAO lane model on the A-2 highway between the towns of Madrid and Torrejón de Ardoz, which has the peculiarity of painting the left lane of the road red for each direction of circulation. The initiative is born from a collaboration agreement between the Ministry of Transport of the Spanish government, the transport consortium of the Community of Madrid and the Madrid City Council.This is not a lane with a physical separation like most high-occupancy lanes we know, but it will function as a free-flow lane for most of the day, but it will be reserved for buses, vehicles with two or more occupants, and other authorized vehicles between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM on weekdays in both directions of traffic, and between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM heading out of the capital, also on weekdays. At this point, it is important to highlight that this new lane system does not discriminate against vehicles based on their propulsion type (electric, hybrid, gasoline, or diesel) or their environmental sticker, and motorcycles will also be able to use it as long as they travel with two occupants.

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The Alfa Romeo 147 was the last great commercial success for the Lombard brand, with a total of 651,823 units manufactured and sold at the Pomigliano d’Arco plant (on the outskirts of Naples) between 2000 and 2010. Its distinctive, youthful, and bold aesthetic, and a dynamic performance superior to its rivals of the time, made the 147 the last car of the brand to win the award for best European Car of the Year in 2001.

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Galloper was a Korean brand the result of an agreement between Hyundai and Mitsubishi specializing in old-school all-terrain vehicles (with chassis on beams, reduction gear, and differential lock) that was present in the European market between 1998 and 2005. The original Gallopers took advantage of the technical and mechanical base of the Mitsubishi Pajero (called Montero in our market), which offered authentic robust 4x4s at a very competitive price and were highly appreciated in rural areas.

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The entry into force of the Auto+ program and the announcement of a 15% reduction in personal income tax (IRPF) in the 2026 tax year for the purchase of an electrified vehicle are the two pillars of the strategy for the decarbonization of the Spanish automotive fleet. In fact, the Auto+ plan is the successor to the Moves plan and has an initial allocation of 400 million euros. Buyers of an electrified vehicle can benefit from it, with retroactive effect from January 1, 2026, and the aid is aimed at individuals, the self-employed, SMEs, and micro-enterprises. These grants for the purchase of electric vehicles work through a system of percentages classified by the EEE (electric, European, and economic) system. In short, this means that the most important grants can only be awarded to vehicles that meet the requirement of being electric, having an affordable car price (less than 35,000 euros), and being produced in Europe. These economical, European, and electric vehicles will be able to opt for the maximum amount of money possible, up to 4,500 euros and 5,000 euros if they are vans. In the case of self-employed individuals, this aid can reach 6,000 euros, and if they are vans, up to 7,500 euros. 

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In 2021, the head of the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), Pere Navarro, and the Ministry of the Interior, led by Fernando Grande Marlaska, signed a royal decree that modified the regulations and established the obligation to use a V-16 light signal to replace emergency triangles. At that time, they argued that the change aimed to provide greater safety to the occupants of a broken-down vehicle by preventing them from having to exit the vehicle to indicate the incident, thus reducing the possibility of suffering an accident due to being run over.

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The Range Rover Sport is something more than an aspirational all-terrain vehicle for the British brand Range Rover, as it has become the manufacturer's emblem and a model that is always in fashion, always coveted by footballers, actors, or music stars. And it is that the Range Rover Sport is a vehicle currently available with diesel and gasoline combustion engines and in a plug-in hybrid version with prices ranging between 98,500 and 145,000 euros and a range of power outputs from 300 to 551 HP.However, by the end of 2026, the fully electric version of the Range Rover Sport will arrive on the market, with a price, power, and range yet to be confirmed, but which will be based on the basic Range Rover Electric which already has a range of 480 kilometers thanks to 117 kWh capacity batteries and a total power of 550 HP.

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This summer is being one of the worst on record regarding forest fires in Western Europe. Successive and suffocating heatwaves, rural depopulation and abandonment of fields, urban developments scattered in areas surrounded by forests, administrations that disregard their obligations, and risky human activities in the natural environment are the main conditioning factors that have led to the current scenario, with large areas of France, Spain, and Portugal suffering historic fires with unprecedented intensities and extents.Meanwhile, the summer months are also the ones with the most mobility on the road network, coinciding with the holiday season and trips to towns and tourist areas, often located in areas of high or very high fire risk. In fact, this very summer, great human tragedies have occurred, such as the death of several people in the Almeria fires inside their vehicles while trying to flee the flames. From the General Directorate of Traffic or associations like the RACE or the CEA Foundation there is agreement in giving some basic advice in case a fire catches us while driving. Lights on, close doors and windows and do not leave the vehicle

First of all, it is necessary to follow the instructions of the relevant authorities when carrying out home confinements, and to avoid taking the car or leaving by the indicated routes in case of evacuation, which limits to the maximum the risk of being caught by the flames. In case we see an area on fire, it is absolutely necessary to avoid driving through it by continuing on, as the smoke and flames limit our visibility and we could end up having an accident, or the engine could eventually stop due to lack of oxygen for combustion. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to turn back and leave the core of the fire, turning on the emergency lights and the dipped headlights, even the fog lights in case the smoke screen limits visibility.Although the first human reaction is to flee from flames, if we see ourselves threatened by flames at a certain distance, it is preferable to close doors, windows, and car ventilation systems to create a temporarily safe space. If we are forced to leave the car if it starts to burn (the worst possible scenario), we must cover most of our skin with a scarf or piece of clothing, as well as cover our nose and mouth, and run in the opposite direction of the fire and look for areas without vegetation or already burned. It is worth remembering that it is always preferable to stay inside the vehicle, unless it starts to burn.The car will not explode

Keeping calm and cool-headed can make a difference in any type of emergency, but even more so in case of fire. The first human reaction is fear and concern about flames reaching the car, but contrary to what movies show, vehicles do not explode, they simply burn and generate dense smoke. Stop in a space without vegetation

The ideal space to avoid the flames of a fire is the road itself, as the asphalt acts as a natural firebreak. In case of finding a space without vegetation, located against or perpendicular to the wind or in an already burnt area, it is highly convenient to stop there and inform the emergency teams of our position.

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Although it was already a publicly known secret since last April, it has not been until last week that it was a publicly known secret since last April that Geely and Ford have signed a historic agreement that will allow the Chinese brand to manufacture several models at the Valencian plant in Almussafes, the factory most highly valued by the Chinese giant's top management thanks to its location, the ease of communication with the rest of Europe, and the proximity of battery manufacturing centers and other suppliers. The agreement between the two automotive giants will allow the Almussafes facilities to go from producing a single model, the Ford Kuga, to five. This is because the roadmap shared by the two companies foresees adding three new models by the end of 2028 and another already planned by the oval brand, the all-terrain Ford Bronco, which will land on the European market during 2027.Two important models in China

The first car that Geely will manufacture in Europe will be the new Geely E5, a compact SUV that is marketed in a fully electric format with a 218 HP engine and a range of 628 kilometers in urban environments (around 450 kilometers in mixed driving cycles). The Geely E5 has a fast-charging system that allows it to charge the batteries from 30% to 80% in just twenty minutes.The second Geely model to land in the Valencian Community – and which has all the makings of a sales success in Europe – will be the Geely E2, also known as the Galaxy Xingyuan in China, an electric B-segment SUV, equivalent to the European utility vehicles it will have to compete with (Renault 5, Cupra Raval and Volkswagen ID Polo). 

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A few months ago, a group of Spanish businessmen led by entrepreneur and adventurer Edu Blanco announced an agreement with Chinese automotive manufacturers to resurrect the legendary Santana all-terrain vehicle brand, headquartered and with a factory in Linares, in the province of Jaén. After announcing a van or pickup called Santana 400 – which also used the base of Chinese models – the Andalusian brand has surprised everyone with the announcement of its second model, an old-school 4x4 called Santana Cajal, in honor of the Spanish Nobel laureate Santiago Ramón y Cajal.

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Summer concentrates the months with the highest road accident rates of the year. To the excesses of major festivals, revelry, and alcohol consumption, other risk factors must be added that multiply with the arrival of good weather, such as distractions while driving and speeding. But the increase in accidents during the summer months is also explained by the onset of heat, one of the factors that most influence driving safety, as it slows down drivers' reaction and concentration capacity. However, it is relatively simple to keep this summer factor under control by following a series of tips that we will now explain to you.

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The inflationary spiral of diesel and gasoline prices due to political instability in the Middle East has led to significant growth in electric car sales in recent months in Europe. Products like the Raval Plus only confirm this trend, as manufacturers offer mature, serious, technological, and very practical models, with correct power and considerable ranges, at increasingly attractive prices, such as the €29,530 that Cupra is asking for the new Raval Plus, which becomes less than €25,000 if the Auto+ plan aid is added, and which could be significantly lower depending on the brand's commercial promotions.The new Cupra Raval Plus uses a 135 HP electric motor powered by an LFP battery with a capacity of 38.5 kWh, which allows it to achieve an approved range of 328 kilometers, more than enough for a youthful model with an urban focus. Furthermore, this Raval Plus can be charged at a direct current point of up to 88 kW of power, allowing the battery to be recharged from 10% to 80% in just 23 minutes.

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A total of 149,099 conventional used passenger cars have been sold in Catalonia during the first six months of the year, according to data from Ganvam and Faconauto. The province of Lleida leads the growth in used vehicle sales this 2026, with an 8.1% increase compared to the same period in 2025, followed by the province of Barcelona, with 6.4%, Girona with a 3.6% growth, and Tarragona, with a small 0.1% growth compared to used vehicle sales in 2025.Historically, the month of June concentrates a good part of the growth of the second-hand vehicle market, as the arrival of good weather, the prospect of new trips during the holiday period, and the summer bonus coincide, factors that facilitate the decision to buy a second-hand vehicle. Used car sales figures far exceed new vehicle sales. According to Ganvam data, in 2025 in Spain, more than 2.2 million used cars were sold, representing a ratio of between 1.9 and 2.2 used vehicles sold for each new vehicle registered in Spain. Diesel and over ten years old

Practically half of the second-hand vehicles sold during the year 2025 were diesel, with 48.3% of the total, according to data from Faconauto, while the average age of the Spanish car fleet rose to 14.5 years, a figure that seems to continue growing without stopping. In fact, more than half of the second-hand cars sold during the year 2025 were more than ten years old, a reality that is consolidating during the first six months of 2026.The growth of the second-hand market and the aging of the automotive fleet is explained by the high price of new cars (which are on average around 30,000 euros) and the low purchasing power of workers. In fact, the demand for second-hand vehicles is so great that several companies have had to import second-hand vehicles from markets such as Germany, the Netherlands, or Switzerland, where there is a surplus of second-hand vehicles and a demand for these vehicles much lower than in Spain, to satisfy the needs of the second-hand market in Catalonia and the rest of the State.Within the second-hand market, a significant increase in interest has been detected in electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles aged between 3 and 5 years, many of them coming from rental and leasing company fleets, with a sale price, however, above the average for this type of transaction, which stands at around 18,500 euros in Catalonia and 17,500 euros in the rest of Spain. Nevertheless, the supply of second-hand electrified vehicles is still insufficient, and the scarce available supply drives up the final price of these zero-emission or eco-labeled vehicles.

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The Goodwood Festival is one of the most important events in the automotive world. This year, the MG brand – of British origin, but controlled by the Chinese giant SAIC – wanted to present its new electric urban vehicle prototype, named GO!, which is set to be a commercial reality circulating on European roads from next year.

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The C segment, corresponding to compact cars like the Golf, the León, the Astra or the 308, among others, has historically been the one that has accumulated the most sales in Europe. Until now, it has been a market segment reserved for the major European manufacturers, but the advance of electrification and new vehicles from China are challenging European hegemony in this segment.Leapmotor is a Chinese manufacturer that has a strategic alliance with the Stellantis group, the parent company of many French, Italian, and North American brands. In fact, the Stellantis group and Leapmotor signed an agreement in 2023 for joint venture to form a company with 51% of the capital reserved for Stellantis and the remaining 49% for Leapmotor to manufacture and sell models of the Chinese brand outside the Asian giant's market. This has allowed some historic factories of the Stellantis group, such as the one in Figueruelas in Zaragoza, to be remodeled to manufacture vehicles from the Chinese brand. The roadmap agreed by Leapmotor and Stellantis at the Aragonese plant involves manufacturing an urban electric SUV called B-10 and a C-segment SUV under the Opel brand that will take advantage of the Chinese brand's platform and technology, and which would be added to the current Lancia Ypsilon and Peugeot 208.Leapmotor B05, an electric car with many arguments

The new B05 is a vehicle that on paper should fit perfectly with the habits, customs, and preferences of European buyers. This Chinese electric car will have a starting price of 26,100 euros, which with institutional aid and current promotional discounts would allow the final price of the product to be below 20,000 euros, a very attractive psychological barrier for buyers on the Old Continent.

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For several years now, the Dacia Sandero has been the best-selling car in Spain, and one of the best-selling passenger cars in Europe, thanks to its commitment and balance between price, features, and capabilities. Until now, however, the Sandero did not have any electrified version, and customers opting for the Eco-labeled version had to settle for the Eco-G variant, which uses a combustion engine capable of running on conventional gasoline or LPG.The Sandero takes a big leap forward with the self-charging conventional hybrid or HEV version already used by the Dacia Jogger and Duster, and which now makes it the cheapest conventional hybrid technology vehicle on the market, with a base price of 19,890 euros for the Expression variant and 20,890 for the better-equipped Journey variant. These versions would rise to 21,290 and 22,690 euros if opting for the Sandero Stepway version, with the aesthetics of an all-terrain or crossover model.A simple and effective mechanic

The new Sandero hybrid uses the proven mechanics of Renault group models like the Clio or Captur to offer a combined 155 HP thanks to the sum of a 1.8 four-cylinder combustion engine with 109 HP and two small electric motors powered by a 1.4 kWh lithium battery. The first electric motor has the function of providing power to the assembly (the equivalent of about 50 HP) and the second small motor acts as a generator to handle the starting and ignition system or electronic tasks such as the lighting system, air conditioning, or radio, among others.

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