Chinese cars in Europe.
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As I mentioned a few posts ago, I was in Europe for a few days. One thing I of course noticed was cars we don’t have over here in the US. Which is actually most of the cars you see there. As many European brands are not sold here, like Opel, Peugeot, Dacia, Renault, Skoda, Citroen, and others.
But I also noticed Chinese cars. From actual Chinese brands. Not the few Volvos and Buicks we have here.
The top photo shows the MG4 EV. I actually saw a few of these and they do look quite nice. Of course, these have nothing to do with what we know as MG. The old British brand has been owned by China’s SAIC Motor since 2007. Most of their offerings are boring and old-looking SUVs, but the MG4 is actually a very modern-looking car. The MG4 was introduced in 2022 and starts at around the equivalent of $ 33,000.
The second car is something I had seen before, the Lynk & Co 01. The brand is basically a Volvo sub-brand in Europe. Both are owned by Geely in China. The brand was created in 2016 and the Lynk & Co 01 pictured above came out in 2017. It is related to the Volvo XC40 and is currently available as a Hybrid or PHEV.
The car in the last two photos is kind of a mystery. It is obviously a self-driving. I believe this is a model from the Chinese brand Xpeng. Since they did sign an agreement last year to start testing “Navigation Guided Pilot” prototypes in Europe.
Most countries in Europe are currently contemplating tariffs on cars imported from China. Unlike the US market where no Chinese brands are sold, over 320,000 Chinese-made cars were sold in Europe last year, or around 2.5 % of the total market. Over 70% of these were from the MG brand alone. However, many other Chinese brands like BYD or Nio are quickly increasing their sales numbers. And will soon manufacture cars in Europe. Like Chery and Byd among others…
Build where you sell. Europe should quickly enact some tariffs on these Chinese-built imports. Everyone these days wants to complain about poor paying jobs, but at the same time they want dirt cheap EVs. Can’t have it both ways. Auto manufacturing jobs have historically been some of the best paying jobs out there – ones that will be taken away if everything is Made In China.
Those countries should require that it be built in the EU and that it be 51% owned and partnered by an EU country company… just like the Chinese require of anyone coming into China.
The car in the last two pictures is a GAC Aion LX
I would also like to point out the news from Stellantis, which from autumn 2024 will begin importing models from the Chinese brand LeapMotor (partially assembled in Europe to avoid customs duties)