At first, German automakers piled into China to take advantage of its growing love of cars. However, in recent years, Chinese automakers have been taking over more and more of their domestic market, and now they have their eyes set on selling to German (and European) consumers, as the latest IAA Mobility show in Munich demonstrates.
A wider variety than ever of Chinese vehicles are on display at the German auto show this week, with cars from brands like BYD, MG, Nobo, Seres, Forthing, and more. In fact, according to Autonews, there were twice as many brands from China on hand for IAA Mobility 2023 as there were at the last event, in 2021.
BYD Seal And Seal U
BYD has become a big player in China, and its sedan, the Seal, and its crossover version, the Seal U, are headed for Europe. While the sedan will be offered exclusively as an EV, the larger version will get either an all-electric or a plug-in hybrid drivetrain.
Read: BYD Seal U SUV Heading To European Markets In EV And PHEV Forms
The Seal gets up to 354 miles (570 km) of range on the WLTP cycle and up to 523 hp (390 kW/530 PS). By comparison, power will be limited to 218 hp (162 kW/221 PS) for the Seal U, but its larger scale will mean that it can go up to 376 miles (605 km) on the CLTC test cycle. Alternatively, the PHEV version of the crossover combines a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, and they’re good for 197 hp (147 kW/200 PS). Depending on the battery they select, owners will be able to go between 68–93 miles (110-150 km) on electric power alone.
MG Brings The Power
For MG, the natural highlight of the show was the Cyberster, its all-electric, convertible sports car. Finally being seen in production specification, we can examine how it will look on the road. Featuring beautiful leather, lots of screens, and a driver-oriented cockpit, it will no doubt attract a fair few customers.
Although power figures for Europe have not yet been revealed, disclosures with the Chinese government suggest that the MG Cyberster will offer either RWD or AWD. The former will offer 310 hp (231 kW/314 PS), while the latter will give drivers up to 536 hp (400 kW/543 PS) and a 0-60 (0-96 km/h) time of around three seconds.
Although the MG4 looks a little less sporty than the Cyberster, it also has excitement in mind. Designed as a hot hatch, the MG4 XPower offers branded, orange brake calipers, aggressive aero elements, and a twin-motor powertrain. Together, they offer up to 429 hp (320 kW/435 PS) and work with a stiffer suspension and sharper steering tuning.
Seres 5 And 7
Perhaps best known for its ties to Huawei, Seres is at the Munich motor show with its 5 and 7 models. A crossover and a larger SUV, respectively, the models offer slick design and electric propulsion, with a potential twist.
The Seres 5 delivers a pretty familiar EV powertrain, with either a motor at the rear or a one each for the front and back axles. They offer 342 hp (255 kW/347 PS) and 637 hp (475 kW/646 PS), respectively. The larger Seres 7 also offers one or two motors, that make up to 449 hp (335 kW/455 PS), but in China it is also available with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that acts as a range extender for the battery, allowing it to offer up to 758 miles (1,220 km) of range on the Chinese test cycle.
Leapmotor C10
Leapmotor is making the jump into its first foreign markets with the C10, a six-seat SUV that is the first of five models destined for Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas in the coming years. Based on the Leap 3.0 architecture, it will be offered in all-electric and range-extender guises. In addition to the new model, the company said that it will also offer its EV technology to other automakers who want to license it, such as Stellantis and VW, both of whom have shown interest in the eight-year-old startup.
Forthing U-Tour
Forthing showed off its big-grilled MPV, the U-Tour, this year. Powered by a four-cylinder turbocharged engine that makes 197 hp (147 kW/200 PS), the front-wheel-drive passenger-hauler gets a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, a panoramic sunroof, a 10.25-inch touchscreen, and much more.
While these Chinese automakers are pouring into the European market, it may be hard for them to actually break in. Buyers on the continent are noted for their brand loyalty, and it took years for automakers from Japan and Korea to make an impact. However, with few truly affordable EVs on sale, there may be an opening for some of these automakers to become major players in the European market.
