Demand for electric vehicles grew at double-digit or even triple-digit rates during the first half of 2026, with Chinese automotive firms increasing their share of the market, according to new data from OLX Group.
The online marketplace operator’s latest report, The Great Acceleration: East Meets Electric, examined consumer demand for EVs across its platforms in five countries: La Centrale (France), Autovit (Romania), Standvirtual (Portugal), Otomoto (Poland), and AutoTrader (South Africa).
‘The data shows EV adoption maturing into a structural trend rather than a short-term reaction: every market measured has now sustained double or triple-digit year-on-year EV lead growth, even as these growth rates ease from previously seen highs,’ it noted.
Leads, in this instance, refers to meaningful user engagement, such as views, enquiries, and contact events, on OLX’s platforms.
Country by country
For example, France saw a 206% growth in leads in June 2026, compared to the same month a year ago, while South Africa was up 154.6%, Romania up 66.0%, Portugal up 60.0%, and Poland up 34.3%.
Portugal remained the most mature EV market among those analysed, OLX noted, with electric vehicles accounting for 14.9% of all consumer leads on the platform, which is more than double that of the other European markets in the study.
At a manufacturer level, MG and BYD are now the most consistently dominant Chinese brands across the group, appearing among the leading brands in France, Romania, Portugal and Poland.
France recorded the fastest growth in demand for Chinese brands, with consumer interest increasing by 276% year on year. Romania saw demand rise by 119%, while Portugal and Poland recorded increases of 74% and 95%, respectively.
Increased demand
“The story our data tells is straightforward: where EV adoption is accelerating, demand for Chinese automotive brands is accelerating with it,” commented Christian Gisy, CEO of OLX.
“That is no coincidence – Chinese manufacturers are actively expanding the market, bringing electric vehicles to consumers at lower price points than ever before. This means EVs are now more accessible for more people. The transition to electric mobility is happening faster, and more broadly, because Chinese manufacturers are in it.”
According to OLX, the latest data suggests that EV adoption is becoming a long-term trend, rather than a temporary response to higher fuel prices brought on by the conflict in the Middle East – settling into a ‘steadier, sustained pattern consistent with structural adoption rather than a short-term reaction.’ Read more here.
