Nikkei Asia (October 12) disclosed that manufacturers such as Great Wall Motor, Geely and
SAIC Motor have recently launched or are planning to release a slate of electric and hybrid
models in Europe's biggest auto market, confident that strong supply chains and improving
brand images will help them make inroads in the country. EV maker Nio began selling its ET7
sedan last Friday, while Great Wall is expected to roll out its Ora Cat, a compact electric car
with a retro design, and its Coffee 01 plug-in hybrid SUV in mid-October. BYD plans to launch
two electric SUVs -- the Atto 3 and the Tang -- and the Han electric sedan in Germany this
month, following releases in Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden in September.
BYD's expansion got a major boost on Oct. 3 when Sixt, Germany's biggest car rental company,
announced it would buy 100,000 Atto 3s between now and 2028. Chinese automakers' foray
into Germany comes as local brands have begun losing ground. The report added that with the
U.S. market more difficult to enter due to its 27.5% tariff on EVs imported from China, Chinese
automakers see Germany as one of their only opportunities to crack a sizable overseas market.
"Germany is the largest market in Europe, so they will all slowly enter the market, first by
establishing their brand, building excitement about their products, and then turning that into a
full-on blitz within a few years."
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