Sept 23 (Reuters) - Chinese automakers sold more cars in

Europe than the Renault and Audi brands in August, helped by

booming plug-in hybrid sales, with models from BYD, Jaecoo and

MG in the category's top-ten sellers, data from JATO Dynamics

showed on Tuesday.

Tesla's Model Y remained Europe's most popular

battery-electric vehicle (BEV), but its sales dropped 37% from

the same month last year despite growing BEV sales overall, data

from the research firm showed.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Chinese automakers have ramped up exports of plug-in hybrid

(PHEV) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) to Europe and plan to

build more models locally, minimising the impact of the European

Union's tariffs on Chinese-made EVs.

PHEVs, which run on a combination of gasoline and

electricity, are gaining in popularity as an affordable

compromise between all-combustion and all-electric cars.

BY THE NUMBERS

Chinese carmakers had a combined market share of 5.5% in

August with over 43,500 sales, up 121% from August 2024, the

data showed. That was higher than Audi's 41,300 and

Renault's 37,800.

PHEV sales in 28 European countries were up 59% in August to

almost 84,000, with PHEVs of Chinese brands up 14-fold to

11,000.

BYD's Seal U, Chery's Jaecoo J7 and

SAIC's MG HS were among Europe's 10 best-selling

PHEVs.

BEV sales in Europe rose 27%, outperforming total market

growth of 5%, the data showed.

KEY QUOTES

"There was strong demand for BEVs in August, however a 27%

increase is less significant than it looks when you consider how

widely they are being promoted," JATO Dynamics analyst Felipe

Munoz said.

CONTEXT

BYD announced late last year it would start selling PHEVs in

Europe. Earlier this month, it said it would make all its EVs

for sale in Europe locally by 2028.