Chinese electric cars have been sold in Europe for years. Selling a car in Europe is not an easy task. Europe is the most competitive market in the world which is not a surprise. German, French, and Italian cars are among the best in the world. But when it comes to EVs, Chinese brands have the upper hand.
European manufacturers are still focused on their cars with an internal combustion engine. Electrification is something they talk about loud, but not something they’re keen on. German or French EVs are still rare and extremely expensive. On the other hand, Chinese electric cars are well-made, decently styled, and better valued. Here are a few you can buy in Europe right now.
Xpeng EVs
Xpeng is a company that is based in Guangzhou, China, with research centers in the USA. Their cars are available in the following European countries: Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Netherlands. In the 2024. they will expand to Germany, France, and the UK, covering most of Western Europe.
Xpeng started in Norway with the G3i compact SUV in 2020 and soon entered Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Larger models as the P7 large sedan and G9 large SUV are also available.
Xpeng collaborated with Plugsurfing and Shell Recharge charging companies, to provide access to more than 400,000 charging points across Europe. The rest of the Chinese electric cars will also have similar cooperation with charging companies because building a charging network is insanely expensive. Interestingly, Volkswagen has a 4.99 percent share in the company.
BYD EVs
BYD is producing the most advanced car batteries in the world. It is also an automotive giant in China, holding more than a third of the Chinese EV market. It also wants a similar result in Europe, so it offers five fully electric models, tailored to pockets of European buyers.
BYD Dolphin is a hatchback with a spacious rear passenger space and a similarly spacious trunk. The Seal model is a fastback sedan that sits on the same platform as the Dolphin but with a larger battery and generous equipment. Atto 3 is a family SUV that also shares the same platform as the Dolphin and Seal.
The more expensive models are BYD Han, a luxurious sedan, and BYD Tang, a 7-seater SUV.
MG EVs
MG is a British brand owned by SAIC Motor. It’s the largest Chinese EV player in Europe, available in many countries. It offers affordable, refined models such as MG4, an electric hatchback, and MG5, an electric station wagon.
MG ZS EV is an electric SUV with a complicated name, but that goes for the majority of Chinese electric cars. They have uncommon names and designations that buyers just going to have to adjust to. Another electric SUV by MG is the luxury Marvel R, intended for upper-middle-class buyers.
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MG Cyberster is an all-electric convertible sports car that goes from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3 seconds. It is distinctive for its retro design, and rather affordable price for this type of car. When it comes to Europe in the summer of 2024 it will cost around €60,000.
Zeekr EVs
Zeekr is a luxury EV brand from China and is focused on succeeding in the European market. It has an R&D center in Sweden, and its global Design center is also located in Sweden. The current lineup consists of two models, and both are available in Europe.
Zeekr 001 is a luxury shooting brake, boosting with a range of 620 km on a single charge. It comes with a 10-year warranty and an 8-year main battery warranty.
Zeekr X is an urban SUV with a range of approximately 440 km. It is similar in size to the Audi Q3 and Volvo XC40 but with a more reasonable price tag. Both Zeekr 001 and Zeekr X are available only in Sweden and Norway for now. It won’t stop there, because Zeekr will come to the rest of Western Europe in 2025.
Featured image credit: Xpeng