# Chinese brands control nearly 70% of the passenger vehicle market.

*robotics · news · 2026-05-02 · TNW*

## Key points

- Foreign automakers briefly regained market share in early 2026 due to expired Chinese EV subsidies.
- Chinese brands now control nearly 70% of China's passenger vehicle sales, up from less than 40% in 2020.
- Foreign automakers like Volkswagen and Hyundai are increasingly partnering with Chinese AI and software firms.
- Chinese tech firms provide autonomous driving systems and chips, reversing the traditional Western technology advantage.
- BYD's sales dropped sharply after subsidy expiration but quickly rebounded to reclaim the market lead by March 2026.

**Companies:** Volkswagen, Toyota, Hyundai, GM, BYD, Geely, Honda, BMW, Mercedes, Xiaomi, Nissan
**Countries:** China, Germany, Japan, South Korea, United States

[Read the full story on TNW](https://thenextweb.com/news/foreign-automakers-china-ev-comeback-struggle)

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