Automotive News Europe — 2023-04-05
Automotive Industry
Chinese automakers have started making inroads into Germany after they targeted Europe's biggest market to offset their tough domestic market.
The Lynk & CO brand increased sales in Germany by 356% to 429 units in 2023 March, data from the KBA motor transport authority showed.
SAIC-owned MG's volume grew by 271% to 2,010 vehicles.
Four Chinese brands that have launched German sales in recent months appeared on the KBA's list of monthly registrations.
They were: Great Wall Motor with 164 new cars registered in 2023 March; Nio with 122 cars registered; Aiways with 18 registrations and BYD with seven registrations.
Bouncing back
Overall, the German market was up 17 percent to 281,361 registrations in 2023 March as supply shortages at mainstream automakers eased.
Among monthly winners were Alfa Romeo, up 151 percent; Land Rover, up 70%; Mercedes, up 38%; Skoda, up 31%; VW, up 30% and Audi, up 27%.
Losers included Honda, down 45 percent and Kia, down 6.8%.
Registrations of full-electric cars rose 28% to 44,125 for a 15.7% market share.
Through 2023 March, the German market rose 6.5% to 666,818.