SAIC Motor, BYD, Geely Auto, Chery, Changan, GAC and GWM have each set up a local subsidiary in Spain, making it the first European country where all seven of China’s biggest carmakers compete side by side. Their goal is to capture 30% of private car sales in Spain soon.
The Geely E2, China’s top-selling car, has just arrived, while GWM has launched the Ora 5. These moves mark the latest stage in a wave that has brought 37 Chinese car brands to Spain in five years. Only about 20 sell cars regularly, but the big seven are leading the charge, drawing on their size and government support to challenge established brands.
Chinese-origin brands registered nearly 120,000 passenger cars in Spain from January to August 2026, capturing 14.5% of the market, up from 5.5% in 2023, information from industry data from Concesionarios Online. Chinese brands already hold 15% of Spain’s new passenger car market. Their share among private buyers has reached 20%; next year, they want to exceed 30% in the private channel. Private sales make up almost half of all car sales in Spain.
China’s domestic car market has stalled. Demand is flat, factories are producing too many cars, and a price war is cutting profits. Carmakers are looking abroad for growth. Spain, Europe’s fourth-biggest car market and the EU’s third by sales, is a prime target. Spanish buyers are known for switching brands and watching prices.
Industry reports say MG, BYD and the Omoda/Jaecoo group accounted for about 90% of Chinese brand registrations in Spain during the first half of 2026, information from Electromovilidad24.
SAIC Motor entered the market first, launching MG Motor España in early 2021. MG now has nearly 100 dealerships and has sold more than 25,000 cars. In 2026, MG passed 32,000 units sold and offers more than 10 models, making it Spain’s top-selling Chinese brand.
BYD followed in 2023. It quickly built a network of 107 official dealerships and aims to reach 130 by the end of 2026. The brand has already registered almost 31,800 vehicles this year.
Chery entered Spain in 2024 and quickly rolled out its Omoda, Jaecoo and Lepas brands. It teamed up with Spanish company Ebro to build cars in Barcelona. Chery now has 115 sales points and sold more than 45,000 cars in 2026. It has also established its European headquarters and an R&D center in Cornellà de Llobregat.
Geely and GWM are the newest arrivals, and both have launched their own subsidiaries. Geely’s first model for Spain is the Starray EM-i, a plug-in hybrid. GWM has returned with the Ora 5, available in electric, hybrid and petrol versions, and plans to launch seven more models by early 2027.
Other Chinese brands are also eyeing Spain. Leapmotor, Livan and Xpeng are already there. Avatr, Nio and Xiaomi’s car division have announced plans to enter Europe, with Xiaomi targeting the first half of 2027.
Chery’s joint venture with Ebro in Barcelona puts Spain basic to the company’s sales and manufacturing operations. The Ebro s900 PHEV is the partnership’s basic model. Chery plans to launch more brands in 2027 to strengthen its position in Europe.
Spanish buyers have more models to choose from and lower prices, while the network of dealers and service centers is growing fast. The MG ZS remains the best-selling Chinese model in Spain. New launches, including the BYD Dolphin G DM-i and Jaecoo 8 SHS, are intensifying competition in impressive segments.
Chinese carmakers are pressing hard, giving European brands real competition. The fight for Spanish car buyers is playing out in showrooms and on the streets. Leapmotor’s B10 has surged in the electric SUV segment, as reported earlier.
Spain’s openness to new brands and its size as a car market have made it a testing ground for China’s auto ambitions. More models and factories are on the way, alongside further investment. Buyers are gaining more choice and better prices as the industry’s balance of power shifts, with little indication of a reversal any time soon.
