BYD and Ebro posted sales figures in Spain that would have seemed unlikely just a year ago. BYD has already doubled its registrations compared with last year, and Ebro has tripled its total, forcing the industry to face a new reality: Chinese automakers are climbing the rankings fast.
August’s figures make the shift clear. The Spanish market registered 68,544 new passenger cars, up 11.8% from last year, making it the strongest August since 2019, information from ANFAC and industry publications. But the bigger story is who’s selling. Electrified vehicles now account for more than a quarter of all new cars, a jump driven in large part by Chinese brands. In August alone, 18,967 electrified vehicles were sold, making up 27.7% of the market.
In the first half of 2026, BYD registered 172,964 vehicles in Europe, a 145% year-on-year increase, information from an industry overview.
Toyota still leads the pack with 71,555 units sold so far this year, widening its lead over Volkswagen and Seat. Volkswagen and Seat follow, while Renault and Kia complete the top five. But their hold is slipping as Chinese brands post record growth. Sector analyses confirm Toyota’s clear lead in August, with Volkswagen and Seat behind.
BYD’s 29,947 units represent a doubling of its market share, and Ebro’s 17,990 sales are three times what it managed by this point last year. Omoda has also doubled its registrations to 16,369, while Jaecoo is up 55.5% with 9,100 units. These are sizable gains, and they pose a direct challenge to the established order.
Established brands are losing ground. Ford’s registrations have dropped by 32%, down 6,700 units from last year. Hyundai is down 17%, while Renault has fallen 13.7%. Nissan is down 12.5%, and Dacia 6.4%. Citroën has dropped 4.4%. Momentum has shifted, leaving traditional brands struggling to keep up.
In the first half of 2026, Omoda and Jaecoo recorded a combined 124,280 registrations in Europe, an increase of approximately 224% over the previous year. Ebro posted a 277% rise in European registrations during the same period, according to industry data.
Industry insiders point to the government’s Plan Auto + as a basic factor, fuelling the surge in electrified vehicle sales and helping the sector recover from the pandemic’s impact. After a 40% drop in 2020, the market has rebounded, with 818,201 new cars registered so far this year, a 6.3% increase over 2025. Some now believe Spain could break the million-car mark again by 2026.
Félix García, communications and marketing director at Anfac, described the mood: “August has been a good month with double-digit growth and a 6.3% cumulative increase, bringing us closer to surpassing 1.2 million cars sold. All channels: private, corporate, and rental are growing, which signals a healthy market.”
Spain’s car market is changing as it recovers. Electrification is now a reality, and Chinese brands are at the center of that shift. The old hierarchy is under pressure, and the pace of change is picking up.
The rise of new players isn’t limited to passenger cars. The recent return of the Mitsubishi Montero 2027, with its focus on diesel power and true 4x4 capability, shows that even established names are rethinking their strategies as consumer demand and regulations evolve.
Spain has become a testing ground for the future of mobility. As electrification accelerates and consumer preferences shift, established brands face a choice: adapt or fall behind. The Spanish market, once predictable, is now wide open. The winners will be those who move quickly and adapt to the new rules.
