Chinese Companies in Europe — 2026-09-07
Geely’s acquisition of a 34% stake in Ford España has advanced to the antitrust review stage, marking a significant shift in European manufacturing partnerships. Meanwhile, CATL and BYD maintain dominant global battery market shares, with CATL holding nearly 40% of the global market as of July 2026.
Chinese Companies in Europe — 2026-09-07
Top developments
Geely
Geely’s plan to acquire a 34% stake in Ford España, reducing Ford’s ownership to 66%, has officially entered the Chinese antitrust review process. This joint control arrangement is scheduled to begin operations in 2027, signaling a deepening integration between Chinese capital and legacy European manufacturing assets. The move allows Geely to utilize Ford’s existing Spanish infrastructure to bypass potential EU tariffs on imported Chinese EVs.
CATL & BYD
New data covering January–July 2026 confirms CATL’s continued dominance in the global EV battery market with a 39.9% share, while BYD holds 14.7%. Together with other Chinese firms, they control 72.8% of the global market, reinforcing the critical dependency of European automakers on Chinese battery supply chains despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Huawei (Aito)
Huawei’s automotive brand Aito has filed a police report in China to reject rumors of "time-traveling" cars, where pre-made vehicles allegedly had future manufacturing dates stamped on them. While primarily a domestic issue, this incident highlights the intense scrutiny and competitive pressure facing Huawei’s automotive expansion efforts, which are increasingly targeting European markets through partnerships like those with Audi.
Deals, expansion & investment
No new major plant announcements or M&A deals specifically for Chinese companies in Europe were reported in the last 24 hours beyond the Geely-Ford Spain development. Previous coverage of Xiaomi’s dealer partnerships and BYD’s Hungary delays remains relevant but no new updates were published within the strict 24-hour window.
Regulation & market context
European Storage Market Growth
The European battery storage market is projected to hit 57 GWh in 2026, growing by 78% year-on-year, according to EUPD Research. This surge benefits Chinese suppliers like CATL and BYD, who are key players in the global energy storage supply chain, even as EU regulatory frameworks tighten around critical raw materials and local content requirements.
China-Germany E-commerce Summit
The China-Germany E-commerce Summit in Berlin recently discussed strategies for Chinese brands entering the European market, focusing on sales channels, after-sales service, and robotics. This indicates a broadening of Chinese corporate presence in Europe beyond just automotive, extending into consumer electronics and logistics services.
On the radar
- BYD Fang Cheng Bao Ti 6: Spotted in China as a cheaper alternative to the Ti 7; while currently domestic-focused, BYD’s rapid model turnover often precedes international rollout, potentially impacting future European lineup composition.
- EU-China Investment Deal: European businesses remain hopeful for an EU-China investment deal by the end of the year, though specific progress in the last 24 hours was not detailed in fresh reports.
By the numbers
- 39.9%: CATL's global EV battery market share for Jan–Jul 2026.
- 14.7%: BYD's global EV battery market share for Jan–Jul 2026.
- 57 GWh: Projected total capacity for Europe's battery storage market in 2026.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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