BYD is on the verge of overtaking Ford in European vehicle registrations after a dramatic first eight months of 2026. The Chinese automaker registered 234,099 vehicles from January through August, just 10,839 behind Ford’s 244,938, according to data published by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association.

BYD registrations rose 144.1% compared with the same period in 2025, while Ford fell 14.4%. If those opposing trends continue, BYD could move ahead of Ford before the end of the year, although the latest figures do not guarantee a change in ranking.

BYD’s European growth accelerates

BYD’s share of the European market reached 2.5% through August, up from 1.1% in the first eight months of 2025. The company has expanded its lineup quickly across the region, giving it more opportunities to compete in mainstream segments as well as the electric-vehicle market.

Ford’s European range has moved in the opposite direction. The automaker has discontinued the Ka, Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo, leaving fewer traditional nameplates in its lineup. The Puma and Kuga remain important models, but both have been on sale since 2019 and are now among Ford’s older mainstream products.

Ford plans a European electric push

Ford is preparing a response through a partnership with Renault focused on a new group of electric vehicles. Renault is expected to build the cars, while Ford plans to give them distinct styling and make changes beneath the body rather than simply rebadge Renault products.

The partnership is expected to produce five “rally-bred vehicles tailored to Europe” by the end of the decade. The planned range could include a small electric model potentially serving as a Fiesta revival, a small crossover related to the Renault 4, a Europe-specific Bronco and two multi-energy crossovers that may eventually replace the Puma and Kuga.

The future of Ford’s Volkswagen-based Explorer and Capri electric vehicles remains uncertain, adding another variable to the automaker’s European product strategy.

Chinese automakers expand beyond BYD

BYD is not the only Chinese-linked manufacturer gaining ground. SAIC, which owns MG, registered 230,290 vehicles through August, up 19.7% year over year and only 14,648 behind Ford.

Geely Group was already ahead of Ford with 289,128 registrations, an 11.6% increase. That figure includes multiple brands, including Volvo, Polestar and Lotus, so it is not a direct comparison with Ford or BYD as individual marques. Chery Group, including Jaecoo, Jetour and Omoda, reached 207,871 registrations after growing 279.7%.

Combined, Geely, BYD, SAIC and Chery accounted for 10.4% of registrations in the market tracked by ACEA. That region covers the 27 European Union member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, rather than every country on the continent. The figures nonetheless show that Chinese automotive groups have become a significant force in Europe, with product launches, pricing, tariffs and buyer acceptance likely to shape their next phase of growth.