German automakers are facing a historical low in China’s electric vehicle (EV) market just ahead of the Beijing Auto Show. According to data from the industry service Marklines, cited by “Handelsblatt”, the combined market share for battery electric vehicles from the five major German manufacturers-Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche-fell to just 1.6% in the first quarter of 2026, representing the lowest point ever recorded.
These five brands collectively registered sales of only 19,230 electric vehicles in China over the first three months of the year, marking a substantial decline of 55.6% compared to the previous year. The overall EV sales trend in the country has also weakened, dropping by nearly 20% to 1.2 million vehicles since the beginning of the year, a decline attributed partly to the expiration of government subsidies for new EV purchases.
The challenges are not limited to the German cohort; even China’s largest automakers are experiencing headwinds, with BYD reporting a nearly 40% plunge in its sales during the first quarter.
Hoping for a reversal of fortunes, the German companies plan to use the upcoming Auto Show in Beijing to showcase their latest models. Specific announcements include Mercedes intending to debut a new electric C-Class, BMW presenting a variation of the “i3” tailored for the Chinese market, and Audi unveiling a new electric SUV developed in collaboration with the local joint venture partner Saic.
Volkswagen plans to introduce models developed with Xpeng, specifically the “ID.Unyx 09” and the “ID.Aura T6”. Furthermore, Volkswagen intends to electrify its budget Jetta model through its second joint venture partner, FAW. This effort aims to launch a €10,000 EV exclusively in China during the latter half of the year.
