ATHENS, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- The growing presence of Chinese car brands has been showcased at AUTO ATHINA 2026, an international auto show that began Saturday in the Greek capital of Athens.

The auto show, which runs from Oct. 3 to 11 at the Metropolitan Expo in Athens, features 52 brands, the largest number in the show's history. More than a dozen Chinese brands are among the exhibitors.

Chinese cars are drawing attention in Greece for their competitive prices and technological features, according to dealers and visitors to the auto show.

Thomas Kouris, a visitor to the BYD booth, said the cars' high quality, competitive prices and electric vehicle(EV) subsidies had prompted him to take a closer look at Chinese brands.

For Nikos Ioannou, a visitor to the Chery booth, the driving experience was important. He said Chinese cars offered reliable performance, good driving dynamics and competitive prices.

"They are very good cars. They turn well, brake well, ride well, have a lot of technology, and offer incredible prices," he said.

The growing presence of Chinese automakers, which have begun entering the Greek market in recent years, is also reflected in statistics.

Chinese brands accounted for nearly 10 percent of new passenger car registrations in Greece in the first eight months of 2026, according to data from the Association of Motor Vehicle Importers-Representatives (AMVIR).

BYD has registered more than 6,000 electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in Greece since entering the market in March 2024, with registrations up by 47 pct in the first eight months of 2026 from the same period last year, Yiannis Kakouris, public relations manager for BYD at Greek dealer Sfakianakis Group, told Xinhua.

At Chery's booth, George Spanos, CEO of Greek dealer Spanos SA, said Chery had achieved strong retail sales in September, with the Tiggo 4 hybrid among its leading models.

The growth comes amid a broader shift in consumer demand toward EV, according to an analysis by AMVIR based on new-car registration data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) remained dominant, accounting for 57.7 percent of new-car registrations in the January-August period, compared with 49.2 percent a year earlier.

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 6.7 percent of new-car registrations, up 1.4 percentage points from the same period last year, while plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) accounted for 6.3 percent. Gasoline-powered cars accounted for 24 percent, down 8.4 percentage points year-on-year.

That market mix has also created opportunities for Chinese manufacturers, many of which have entered Greece with hybrid models alongside fully electric vehicles.

"The trend is toward new-technology vehicles that definitely have a battery and an electric motor. However, hybrids are still more popular," Spanos said.

"Chinese cars are now embraced by Greek consumers," he added. ■

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