Chinese Car Brands in Germany 2026: BYD, MG and the Market Shift

Chinese car brands have arrived in the German market in volume. According to dpa, they took about 2.4% of new registrations in 2025, up from 1.7% in 2024, and about 3.1% in Q1 2026. By January to July 2026, on a broad definition, 70,209 cars or roughly 4.0% of the market were Chinese-brand. Volume is not the same as a long track record, and that gap is where the 2026 story for the German car market sits.

This breakdown walks through the KBA registration data, the EU countervailing duty schedule that explains part of the price picture, and the dealer-network arithmetic behind who is likely to stay on Germany's roads. Figures come from the KBA as reported by the trade press, the European Commission and company releases; the sources are listed at the end.

How much have Chinese car sales actually grown in Germany?

The 2025 KBA Jahresbilanz tells the story in a few numbers. BYD registered 23,306 vehicles in Germany in 2025, a 706.2% jump from 2,890 in 2024. Leapmotor went from 178 units to 7,280 — a 3,989.9% climb. XPeng grew 661.1% to 2,991. MG (SAIC) remained the largest Chinese brand with 26,479 units (+26%). Chinese brands held about 2.4% of total German passenger car registrations in 2025 (dpa); on a narrower list of twelve brands (MG, BYD, Leapmotor, XPeng, GWM, Lynk & Co, Nio, Omoda, Chery, Deepal, Jaecoo, Zeekr) the total was 63,617 cars, about 2.2%.

2026 then steepened the curve. BYD moved 13,825 units across January to April (+395.3% year-on-year); April alone brought 4,705 BYD vehicles (+200.4%), a 1.9% share. By July, BYD had registered 5,240 cars (2.0% share) and 31,492 in January to July (1.8%), ahead of MG (19,850) and Leapmotor (11,138, 0.6%). The combined Chinese share was about 3.1% in Q1 2026 and roughly 4.0% over January to July on the broad definition.

Source: KBA data as reported by leinetal24.de and echo24.de (2025); dpa via extraetf.com (21 April 2026); electrive.net (7 August 2026); BYD Deutschland press release (April 2026).

BYD vs MG: who is actually winning Germany right now?

In 2025, MG outsold BYD in Germany by 3,173 units (26,479 against 23,306). In 2026 the order flipped: January to July BYD registered 31,492 cars against MG's 19,850. MG has widened its range beyond the ZS crossover, the HS midsize SUV and the MG3 small car with the MG4 Electric: from January to September 2025 the MG4 had 4,712 registrations, the MG3 4,156, the ZS 4,160 and the HS 4,118. MG's dealer network was about 180 to 185 locations in 2026, with a target of 230 and a longer-term goal of 250.

The EU's countervailing duties from October 2024 treat the carmakers differently: 17.0% for BYD, 18.8% for Geely and 35.3% for SAIC (MG's parent). On top comes the normal EU customs duty on passenger cars of 10% (general knowledge, not shown on the Commission page we checked), giving about 27.0% for BYD and 45.3% for SAIC. Note that the duties apply to battery-electric cars only. For orientation on prices: the BYD Dolphin Surf lists at €22,900 (launch price €19,990), and with the BYD bonus and the federal grant it was promoted from about €12,990.

Who is actually buying: private vs tactical registrations?

Registration figures do not say who the buyer is. Part of the volume of new brands consists of dealer, manufacturer and rental registrations: market-wide, such “tactical” registrations (Taktik) made up 36% of the German market in 2025. BYD itself reports that its private share was 39% in March 2026 and 65% in September 2026, which is company data in an ongoing debate about self-registrations.

For companies, the Investitionsbooster applies: a 75% write-off in the first year (then 10, 5, 5, 3 and 2 percent) for battery-electric cars bought between 1 July 2025 and 31 December 2027. It covers BEVs only, not plug-in hybrids, and it is a 2025 law, not an extension of an older scheme.

What the EU tariff schedule actually means for prices

The EU countervailing duty regulation that took effect on 31 October 2024 (Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2754, definitive for five years) is the document behind many of the visible price differences. It applies to battery-electric cars only. Rates for the brands most active here:

Source: European Commission, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2754. The 10% base import duty is the normal EU customs duty on passenger cars (general knowledge).

The escape hatch is local production. BYD's Hungary plant in Szeged began trial production in February 2026; the series start has been delayed repeatedly and is now expected in the fourth quarter of 2026, starting with the Dolphin Surf, far below capacity. The original plan was 150,000 vehicles a year, with 300,000 as a long-term ceiling. Cars built in the EU avoid the duties. SAIC, by contrast, has no EU plant (only plans in Spain have been announced). In January 2026 the Commission published guidance on replacing duties with model-by-model minimum prices, and a VW (Cupra Tavascan) offer is under review; the duties remain in force.

The dealer expansion math nobody is talking about

Dealer networks decide whether a new brand can serve fleet contracts and buyers outside big cities. BYD had about 150 locations in January 2026 and signed its 200th partner in July 2026 (up from 26 about a year and a half earlier), although some are not yet active — one report counted more than 120 active. The target is about 350 by the end of 2026.

MG had about 180 to 185 dealers in 2026 and aims for 230, with a medium-term goal of 250. It is also ending its agency model: MG will move from agency to a contract-dealer model by the end of 2026, starting with the MG4 Urban.

Leapmotor takes a different route. Leapmotor International B.V. (Amsterdam), formed in May 2024, is 51% owned by Stellantis and 49% by Leapmotor, and has sold in Europe since September 2024 through the Stellantis network. That gives instant coverage but limits independent brand-building.

What plug-in hybrids change for Chinese brands

BYD sold plug-in hybrids in Germany already in 2025: the Seal U DM-i was the lead model. The EU countervailing duties apply to battery-electric cars only, so plug-in hybrids avoid them — that is the real tariff reason a Chinese PHEV can be priced aggressively, not a duty reduction. The 2026 federal E-Auto-Förderung also covers plug-in hybrids and range extenders, with a base of €1,500 (up to €4,500).

How Chinese brands compare to incumbents on residual value

Residual value is where a short track record shows up. We found no published three-year residual figures specific to Chinese brands, so we do not give any. What DAT publishes for the market overall: a three-year-old BEV keeps about 49 to 52 percent of its list price, a petrol car about 58 to 59 percent and a diesel about 56 to 58 percent; in August 2026 petrol was at 59.4 percent and diesel at 58 percent, while BEV residuals had risen by 1.4 percentage points since May.

The lease implication is direct: monthly rates reflect the residual the lessor assumes, so compare that assumption, not only the headline rate. One note: MG has sold cars in Germany since 2019 (the MG ZS EV), so used Chinese-brand cars already exist; for the newest brands the history is short. See our depreciation by brand guide for the Wertmeister results.

Where things stand in the second half of 2026

Several moves shape the second half of 2026. BYD’s Hungary plant is due to start series production in the fourth quarter, beginning with the Dolphin Surf, which would give the brand its first EU-built cars for the German market. MG is ending its agency model by the end of 2026. Chery is preparing Omoda and Jaecoo models; sources conflict on the German launch timing, and a Chery-run plant in Barcelona (the former Nissan site) already exists.

The Chinese share was roughly 4.0% in January to July 2026. Where it ends the year depends on BYD’s pace, MG's dealer transition and the outcome of the EU minimum-price discussions.

So should you actually buy a Chinese car in Germany in 2026?

The honest answer depends on how long you plan to keep the vehicle. Manufacturer warranty terms are part of the case: BYD offers 6 years or 150,000 km on the vehicle and 8 years or 200,000 km on the battery, MG 7 years or 150,000 km (check current terms with the dealer). The 2026 federal grant covers plug-in hybrids and range extenders as well as BEVs, for every brand.

If you are leasing for a few years with the residual value risk on the lessor, the track record matters less to you. If you are buying outright and keeping five-plus years, ask how the dealer or bank derived any residual figure, and keep in mind that Schwacke and DAT data for the newest brands will only accumulate over the coming years.

Key takeaways

• BYD registered 23,306 vehicles in Germany in 2025 (+706.2%, 2024: 2,890) and 31,492 in January to July 2026 (1.8% share).
• MG led the Chinese brands in 2025 with 26,479 units (+26%), 3,173 ahead of BYD; in January to July 2026 BYD (31,492) was ahead of MG (19,850).
• Chinese brands held about 2.4% of German registrations in 2025 (dpa), about 3.1% in Q1 2026 and roughly 4.0% in January to July 2026 (broad definition).
• EU countervailing duties on battery-electric cars: BYD 17.0%, Geely 18.8%, SAIC 35.3% (Tesla 7.8%), on top of the 10% standard duty. Plug-in hybrids are not covered.
• BYD’s Szeged plant started trial production in February 2026; the series start is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026, starting with the Dolphin Surf.
• Dealer networks: BYD about 150 locations in January 2026, 200th partner in July, target about 350; MG about 180 to 185, target 230, switching to contract dealers by end-2026.
• Registration figures include dealer, manufacturer and rental registrations: “tactical” registrations were 36% of the market in 2025.
• Residual data: no published three-year figures specific to Chinese brands; DAT average three-year BEV residual is about 49 to 52 percent of list price.
• The Investitionsbooster allows a 75% first-year write-off for company BEVs bought from 1 July 2025 to 31 December 2027 (BEVs only).

Sources and methodology

• Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA) registration data for 2025 and 2026, as reported by leinetal24.de, echo24.de, Forvis Mazars (Jahresbilanz 2025) and electrive.net (7 August 2026).
• dpa on Chinese brand shares via extraetf.com (21 April 2026).
• BYD Deutschland press releases (April 2026 growth, September 2026 market review).
• European Commission — Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2754 on definitive countervailing duties for electric vehicles from China (trade.ec.europa.eu); carnewschina.com (12 January 2026) and Bruegel on minimum-price guidance.
• electrive.com and elektroauto-news.net on BYD Szeged and the Dolphin Surf offer; electrive.net (20 January 2026) and autohaus.de on BYD and MG dealer networks; elektroauto-news.net on MG’s change of sales model; cnevpost.com on Leapmotor International.
• IHK Gera — Investitionsbooster.
• DAT residual analyses via t3n.de and vision-mobility.de (August 2026); solarserver.de on the E-Auto-Förderung.

Related reading

This breakdown sits inside the Market Analytics cluster:

• German Car Market Report 2025–2026 — Pillar guide — the parent article for this cluster.
• Most Popular Cars in Germany: KBA Registration Data Breakdown — Spoke — model-level rankings.
• Total Cost of Ownership: Compact, SUV and EV Compared — Spoke — segment-level cost differences.
• Depreciation Rates by Brand: Which Cars Hold Value in Germany? — Spoke — residual value patterns across powertrains.
• Kfz-Steuer Explained: How Germany Calculates Car Tax — Cross-cluster (Buying Guides) — federal vehicle tax structure.
• Automobilisto vehicle catalog — Check specifications, range and warranty terms for BYD, MG and other models before buying.