Chinese Electric Car Manufacturers Have a Good Shot at Success in Europe

CHINESE EV manufacturers have a good shot at success in Europe, thanks to a growing demand for green vehicles and favorable government incentives. However, there are hurdles to overcome, including brand recognition in the United States and the loyalty of European consumers for long-established European brands.

The Shanghai auto show in April will see the world’s leading carmakers return to a market that is racing toward an electric future. Chinese EV companies are poised to leap ahead of them.

Geely

Geely is one of the best-known automotive companies globally due to its stakes in Volvo Cars and Mercedes-Benz. The company has made a big push into the electric-vehicle sector with several new brands. It also has a number of partnerships with technology giants like Baidu and Foxconn, the world’s largest contract maker of consumer electronics.

Besides its mass-market Geely Geometry EV brand, the company has pure battery premium line Zeekr, which debuted in 2021. The flagship model of the Zeekr 001 can travel 641 miles on a charge, making it the world’s longest-range passenger EV. It features a suite of AI-powered tools and voice-activated assistants to help the driver navigate the vehicle.

The company has also launched a new upscale SUV called the Yinhe, which will offer a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The Yinhe L7 is expected to electric car makers have a driving range of up to 850 miles. The company is also working on improved hybrid engines and autonomous driving technologies.

The company’s other brands include the Chinese-designed Polestar EV, which is a joint venture with Volvo. It also owns a stake in Lotus, and is a 50/50 partner with Daimler in the Smart brand. It also owns Farizon, which makes electric cargo and panel vans. The company has also teamed up with Foxconn on a new manufacturing plant aimed at building EVs for other automakers.

GAC Aion

GAC Aion is the EV marquee of Guangzhou Automobile Group, which is majority owned by the city of Guangzhou. It is not one of China’s Big Four auto manufacturers, but it has a decent track record with EVs. In 2022, it sold 273,757 cars, ranking it fifth in the nation’s EV sales chart behind BYD, SAIC-GM-Wuling with its mini EVs, Geely, and Tesla.

GAC is expanding its EV production capacity and plans to launch a second plant this year with an annual output of 200,000 units. The company also expects to export its vehicles to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, where it hopes to make a name for itself as a provider of affordable electric mobility solutions.

The first EV to hit the market under the GAC Aion brand is the youth-focused Aion Y Plus SUV, which was launched in September 2022. It offers a claimed range of up to 430 km on lenient Chinese tests, and is available with various battery sizes.

Aion’s next model is the Hyper HT, an all-electric medium-to-large SUV that will be available with both standard and gull-wing doors. It has been declared by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and is expected to go on sale this November. Pricing has yet to be announced. The gull-wing doors will be a standout feature of the car and give it a distinctive look.

Hozon Auto

China’s huge market for electric vehicles draws dozens of new entrants each year. Hozon Auto is one of them. Founded in 2014, the Shanghai-based company is focused on the research, development and manufacturing of new energy vehicles. It also provides intelligent electric passenger cars, parts and other related products.

It has a small presence in major cities like Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai, but it has a head start in rural areas and lower-tier cities that are often overlooked by major EV brands. Its stripped-down electric SUVs like the Nezha V and Neta U are among the cheapest in the country. They feature touchscreen controls, no physical buttons, and ample room to seat up to six people.

Hozon’s cheapest models cost less than 100,000 yuan after subsidies and have sleek looks. But sales have been sluggish and the company is losing money. The founders plan to raise capital through a Hong Kong public listing, but have yet to announce the details.

The company is leveraging its expertise in hardware, software, algorithms, AI, and deep-learning to speed up the development of autonomous driving technology. Its vehicles also feature chinese electric car manufacturers smart functions like remote monitoring and emergency calling. Its mission is to redefine travel by simplifying the user experience and bringing a heightened sense of comfort and convenience to everyday life.

Chery

Chery is one of the Chinese car brands that have been enjoying a bit of a moment in the sun in recent years. With MG surging in Australia and GWM Haval and LDV growing rapidly in Europe, Chery is preparing to enter the EV market with a new model. The company is expected to apply for investment incentives with Thailand’s Board of Investment in the coming weeks and start production of Omoda and Jaecoo branded EVs at a local plant.

The company is also planning to launch a range of EVs in Asia, including the Chery E0X platform, which will be used by several different brands. The small electric city car will be available in a two- and four-seat version. Its predecessor was an EV version of the Chery QQ and was known as Little Ant (Xiaomayi).

In addition to the Chery E0X, the brand has already introduced other EV models such as the Arrizo 7 and Tiggo XEED. The Arrizo 7 is capable of driving for more than 200 km on a single charge. It also passed the crash test conducted by Taiwan’s National Institute of Technology and scored an A rating for fuel efficiency.

The brand has a long history of independent innovation and currently operates R&D centers in China, Germany, and the United States. Its future plans include a focus on autonomous driving and a push into the higher end of the premium sector.