Chinese automakers surge while Swiss electric car sales hit record levels

Chinese manufacturers are rapidly climbing global rankings. Geely more than doubled its sales since 2020 to over three million vehicles and entered the top‑15, while newcomer Changan, absent from the 2020 list, has also broken into the top ranks. Traditional European brands are losing ground, with Mercedes‑Benz falling from 12th to 15th place, Renault dropping from 9th to 14th, and BMW slipping to 13th.

In Switzerland, electric and plug‑in hybrid vehicles accounted for 36.3 % of new‑car registrations in the first half of 2026, a record share driven by sharply higher gasoline prices linked to the Iran conflict. About 117,000 new cars were sold, three percent more than the same period a year earlier, and the market share of conventional combustion‑engine cars fell to 27.2 %. Industry leaders warned that growth remains below expectations and called for tax relief, more charging infrastructure, and lower electricity costs.