<div id="readability-page-1">European consumers, spooked by rising oil prices due to the Middle East conflict, rushed to buy battery-powered cars last month, with Chinese electric vehicle (EV) brands poised to reap the benefits and give their global expansion a boost. Battery EV (BEV) registrations, a proxy for retail sales, climbed 51 per cent month on month in March, topping 224,000 units across 15 key European Union (EU) markets, according to data jointly released by research firm New Automotive and industry consortium E-Mobility Europe on Monday. “March’s surge in electric car sales is one of Europe’s biggest recent gains in energy security, in a month when oil dependence became a real vulnerability,” said Chris Heron, secretary general of E-Mobility, in a statement. “Across the EU’s major markets, EV sales are growing at rates above 40 per cent, marking a clear step change, not statistical noise.” He added that the more than 500,000 BEVs delivered in the EU in the first quarter of the year could cut roughly two million barrels of oil demand a year.  The report did not include the sales of different carmakers. Chinese-made pure electric cars, with their high-performance batteries and competitive pricing, had increased their market share in the EU since the start of this year, according to Cui Dongshu, secretary general of the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). Their sales on the continent were expected to jump after the US-Israel war on Iran started at the end of February, he added. In the first two months of 2026, Chinese-made EVs accounted for 16 per cent of the EU market, up from 12.2 per cent in 2025, CPCA data showed. “Chinese companies, particularly emerging EV makers like Leapmotor and Xpeng, have flexed their technological strength in markets like Norway and the Netherlands,” Cui said. “Their export volume to the EU has been rising substantially.” Analysts said the global energy shock would further benefit Chinese EV brands as they launched new models and opened more showrooms across Europe this year. BYD, China’s EV king, and Geely Auto, mainland China’s second-largest carmaker, have ramped up their overseas expansion this year in pursuit of higher profitability. “As Chinese electric-car makers invest more in sales networks and introduce a wider variety of models, their cars are likely to be well received by European customers because of their superiority,” said Gao Shen, an independent analyst in Shanghai. “A worsening situation in the Middle East could propel sales of Chinese EVs globally.” Since the Iran war started, Brent crude prices have risen nearly 30 per cent and currently hover around US$100 per barrel. The mainland’s assemblers and supply-chain vendors were at the vanguard of EV technology and production, buoyed by government support and consumers’ willingness to embrace innovation, according to analysts. Leveraging their design and production strength, Chinese-made smart EVs – equipped with self-driving systems and digital cockpits – are gaining global popularity. The EU levied tariffs of 7.8 to 35.3 per cent on Chinese-made BEVs in late 2024, ­following more than a year of anti-subsidy investigations. The European Commission, the executive body of the EU, and Beijing said in January that a new mechanism based on minimum prices agreed by Chinese assemblers could be enforced in future to replace the existing tariffs. </div>

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<p>European consumers are increasingly purchasing battery-powered cars due to rising oil prices from the Middle East conflict, leading to a 51% month-on-month increase in battery EV registrations in March, totaling over 224,000 units in the EU. Chinese EV brands are benefiting significantly, with their market share rising from 12.2% to 16% in early 2026. Analysts predict that the ongoing global energy crisis will further enhance the appeal of Chinese EVs, as companies like BYD and Geely expand their presence in Europe. The EU's tariffs on Chinese BEVs may be replaced by a new pricing mechanism in the future.</p>

- European consumers accelerated purchases of battery-powered cars in March due to rising oil prices linked to Middle East conflicts, with BEV registrations rising 51% to over 224,000 units in key EU markets.  
- Chinese electric vehicle brands are set to gain market share, accounting for 16% of the EU market in early 2026, up from 12.2% in 2025, as they expand their operations and introduce new models.  
- Industry analysts suggest that increasing oil prices and the EU's tariffs on Chinese EVs may boost sales and innovation, enhancing the competitiveness of Chinese-made smart EVs in the European market.

Jump in EU EV sales amid Iran war boosts Chinese brands’ fortunes