Chinese car companies going global are becoming increasingly powerful; recently even Singapore, this "classic petrol paradise", has been captured by Chinese cars in the last two years.
In Q1 2026, the share of pure EVs in new car sales in Singapore surged to 57.6%. This is the first time in history that pure EVs sold more than the combined total of petrol cars and hybrids.
What does this mean? Now when people buy cars, EVs have become the default first choice.
This shift is directly reflected in the sales rankings; I organized a table to make it clearer:
From this list, you can most intuitively feel the impact of Chinese brands.
In the top 10, Chinese brands took four seats. Besides BYD at the top, Chery, GAC, and MG broke into the top 10 for the first time collectively, directly squeezing out several old rivals from Korean and Japanese series.
What's more terrifying is the overall momentum. In January 2023, the market share of Chinese brands in Singapore was a pitiful 3.3%; by February 2026, this figure surged to 39.5%.
A 10-fold leap over three years, this is no longer "grabbing a piece of cake", this is simply "making a whole new table of dishes".
And this is not the end. By April, the monthly market share of Chinese brands even surged to 48.5%, just a step away from half the market.
Behind this is the collective charge of more than ten brands such as Zeekr, XPeng, Dongfeng, and Leapmotor. It can be said that in Singapore, buying Chinese cars has become a very mainstream, even fashionable thing.
So, do you know which Chinese car models Singaporeans love to buy the most?
I did some research; the following models are currently the undisputed "stars":
BYD Atto 3: This is BYD's absolute mainstay. It can be said that it alone drove the entire EV trend in Singapore. It was the sales champion for 14 consecutive months in Singapore; just knowing that tells you how deeply rooted it is locally.
Chery Omoda E5: This is Chery's "secret weapon" for breaking records. From selling 90 units a month to 600 units in a quarter, it relies on this precisely positioned electric SUV.
GAC Aion Y Plus: GAC's sales are almost entirely supported by it. Its advantage is: competitive price, and it perfectly fits the standard for Singapore's Class A Certificate of Entitlement, immediately lowering the car purchasing threshold.
MG 4 Electric: This hatchback electric small car sold very well in Europe, and it is the same in Singapore.
It looks stylish, handles flexibly, and has a fair price, making it especially popular among young people.
Honestly, the explosion of Chinese brands in Singapore absolutely did not rely on the old impression of "dumping low prices".
First, they fully mastered the policy. The Singapore government offers up to 30,000 SGD in subsidies for EVs, but levies a surcharge of up to 35,000 SGD on high-emission vehicles.
With this inflow and outflow, it is clear who is more cost-effective. Chinese brands are also smart, focusing on models that meet the Class A Certificate of Entitlement standards, directly saving users a large sum of money.
Second, the product power has truly improved. In a mature market like the Lion City, consumers are very shrewd. Now Chinese EVs, range anxiety is basically solved, and charging networks are expanding rapidly. Most importantly, for the same money, the infotainment system, intelligent assisted driving, and that smooth large screen you get offer an experience far superior to Japanese or even German cars at the same price.
Finally, it is a shift from "single combat" to "group fight". Previously relying on just BYD, now Chery, GAC, Zeekr are all here, forming a brand matrix.
When everyone goes into the store and sees, everywhere are Chinese cars, this "momentum" rises. On the contrary, old brands like Mercedes-Benz and BMW, although also good cars, clearly lagged half a beat in reaction speed to electrification. Sales dropped nearly 40% year-on-year, this is the most direct price.
Looking forward, although the Singapore market is not huge, only over 50,000 vehicles a year, it is the benchmark for Southeast Asia.
Being able to stand firm in Singapore is like holding a "passport" to the global high-end market. For Chinese car brands, this is not just selling cars, but also proving brand value.
The upcoming battle is about competing in service, charging ecosystem, and user reputation. However, from what we see now, Chinese brands have already run far ahead; traditional car companies really need to step up their game.
