5 photos
christian garcia
May 11, 2023
These are the new brands of Chinese cars that arrive in Spain, electric and cheap Chinese cars…
Electric mobility has opened the door of Europe to many Chinese brands that have been disembarking one after the other to offer a catalog of models, generally more economically accessible than those that already exist. Although some also incorporate combustion versions, the vast majority of new vehicles come with the electrification standards that the European Union will require as mandatory from 2035. So, through these plans, manufacturers already expect to have a range and a very consistent brand image when we reach that date, many of them having surely become authentic commercial references if things do not change…
But… what is the secret of Chinese brands? Well, at this point it should be made clear that the Chinese brands have not discovered any formula for Coca-Cola. Rather, it has been China, through its government and local companies, that has positioned itself as a very favorable country in terms of industrialization for the production of cars with the sum of two essential aspects: offering highly innovative technological solutions and low-cost manufacturing with, among other things, easy access to lithium to make batteries and other raw materials. Let them tell it, if not, even to foreign firms such as BMW, Dacia, Tesla or Cupra itself, which have built the cradles of the iX3, Spring, Model 3 or Tavascán there.
Chinese car brands
5 photos
MG
So, what Chinese car brands are there and will there be in our country? Surely you have known the British MG for a long time (Morris Garages), responsible for giving life to the iconic MG A of the 30s, MG Metro of the 80s (it had the Group B homologated version that made it famous) or MG ZR of the 2000s, the sportiest Rover 45. Well, the group that MG shared with the insignia of the Viking ship went bankrupt with the entry of the new millennium. Shortly after, the multinational group Shanghai-based SAIC bought the company and, after years of success in the most populous country in the world until recently, for a few months they have also begun to reap their fruits in the Old Continent with the MG 4, MG HS, MG Marvel R or the MG ZS SUV.
Lynk & Co.
Lynk & Co.belonging to the Chinese Geely consortium that manages Volvo, Polestar and a good part of Mercedes, Smart, Lotus and Aston Martin, has broken new ground in the plug-in hybrid market with the launch of its Lynk & Co 01, an SUV based on the Volvo XC40 that is available through an annual subscription (yes, yes, like Netflix or Spotify.) This business model, let’s say it, is gaining more and more followers… (This is Astara Move, the shortest-term renting.)
5 photos
BYD
One of the last to arrive but no less important is BYD (from Build Your Dreams or Build Your Dreams, in English.) It has just completed 20 years since its founding and enters Europe established as one of the largest automobile companies in China, largely due to the importance it has in the production of batteries globally. At the moment it has a catalog made up of the Atto 3, a compact SUV with 420 km of autonomy; Tang, a larger SUV with up to 7 seats; Han, a large saloon with more than 500 km of autonomy and a certain sporty character; Seal, a saloon with 530 CV and more than 500 kilometers of autonomy; and the Dolphin, a 204 hp compact that puts the ID.3 in its sights. All of them, of course, are 100% electric cars.
Airways, DFSK…
Along with these, there are other Chinese brands that little by little are starting to make people talk in Spain and the rest of Europe: airwayswith its U5 and U6; DFSK of the Invicta Group (a conglomerate that has interesting urban mobility solutions beyond four wheels), with its 500, 580, F5 and the electric Seres 3; SWM, Shineray or Green Tour. Very soon, the new brand Xpeng, based in Guangzhou, quite focused on the market, will join all of these. premium like Polestar and Lynk & Co.
5 photos
JAC and Maxus as spearheads in commercials
Likewise, in the category of commercial vehicles, manufacturers JAC and Maxus which, although they also have family models, prefer to focus their catalogs on providing service and products to professionals -both companies and freelancers- with vans ranging from the size of a Kangoo to that of a Crafter… in the case of the former, it even offers heavy-duty trucks.
Are Chinese cars safe?
Despite the prejudices that still exist today in relation to Asian products (especially Chinese ones), we must bear in mind the strict quality standards that the EU demands of all companies that sell within its borders. The automobile sector is not an isolated case, therefore it should be emphasized that, yes, current Chinese cars -at least those sold in Europe- security is guaranteed that any other European model enjoys.
On the other hand, it is necessary to put in context that, in general, Chinese products today are no longer what they were a decade ago. As we mentioned, China itself has seen a huge gold mine in our market and, aware of the traditional suspicion of European users, quality has increased considerably of your products.
In the case of automobiles, the best yardstick is held by the Euro NCAP results: The BYD Atto 3, Lynk & Co 01 or Polestar 2, which we could also consider Chinese, get the five Euro NCAP stars, the highest score. Other models like the MG ZS or the Aiways U5 settle for three. By this we mean that, as in everything, what gives you more or less guarantees is not the fact of being Chinese or not, but of being more affordable (low cost) or require a greater investment.
