The Chinese overshadowed the Europeans

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China is slowly opening up after the corona pandemic – and the auto world is flocking to Shanghai, where Auto China, now the world’s most important auto trade show, was held for the first time in more than three years.

Our visit shows that China is now more committed to electromobility than many expected. About a third of all newly registered vehicles in the country are called electric plug-in hybrids or purely electric cars – that is, plug-in vehicles. Major Chinese companies such as SAIC, BYD, Great Wall and Geely have created all kinds of new brands and cars that impress locals with their attractive designs and cutting-edge technology, but are also suitable for export. wider world.

While visiting the exhibition halls, we hardly see any petrol or diesel powered vehicles. At the powerful exhibition stands of Zeekr, Roewe, MG, Haval or Nio, the look at the automotive future is all-electric. While the once bold replicas of Western cars have largely disappeared before the pandemic, one or the other of the designs is still based on European models – but ingenious and pretty cool, in the meantime. In addition, the quality of the interior made in China now pays off. It’s not easy to fool Chinese manufacturers when it comes to modern driver assistance systems, huge touchscreens and other electronic innovations. We are discovering magically opening doors, mass-processed lidar laser sensors, massage chairs and innovative lighting technology in facial recognition.

The Chinese are more innovative and brave

As planning continues across seven-year model cycles in Europe and America and vehicles are refreshed with a subtle facelift mid-term, Chinese brands are acting much faster and bolder. Of course, they cannot or do not have to refer to tradition and brand history. But Chinese customers are not interested in any of this anyway. They want the best possible deal – in other words: more cars for as little money as possible, explains a local analyst. On the other hand, excellent network connectivity for WeChat integration (Chinese Whatsapp) so you can pay while driving or discuss with the community, big screens in the cockpit, motion and voice control and of course artificial intelligence.

In other words, the European dominance of the Chinese market has come to an end. Manufacturers like BMW and Mercedes, but above all with its subsidiary Audi and Volkswagen, are seeing sales figures fall in the world’s largest auto market. Chinese automakers are putting huge pressure not only on European competition in China, but here as well. While countless Chinese car brands won’t be coming to Europe, manufacturers like Geely, Great Wall, MG and Nio have long kept our continent in focus. And with Zeekr, Geely’s premium subsidiary, the next Chinese brand is already poised to conquer Europe. “Two years ago we presented our first, state-of-the-art electric vehicle, the Zeekr 001. Then came the Zeekr 009 and now the Zeekr X,” explains Zeekr CEO Andy An proudly. We look forward to launching our brand in Europe as a more important step in our growth strategy.” What sounds good is more likely to be perceived as a threat to major European automakers.

Source: Blick