Chinese automakers out in force at Paris

Chinese automakers are stepping up efforts to establish a long-term presence in Europe, moving beyond vehicle exports to local production and sales networks.

More than 20 Chinese brands attended the biennial Paris Motor Show, which concluded on Sunday local time, more than double the number at the 2024 edition, according to Reuters.

The growing Chinese presence came as several established automakers, including BMW and Porsche, were absent from the event.

Francois Roudier, secretary-general of the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, said the influx of Chinese brands brought renewed energy to a show where some traditional automakers had become less willing to participate.

For Chinese manufacturers, a stronger presence at one of Europe's best-known auto shows is only part of their effort to turn growing local interest in their products into sustained sales.

At the show, automakers not only showcased new models and intelligent technologies, but also outlined plans for local manufacturing, regulatory certification and broader service networks.

The objective is increasingly to build businesses in Europe rather than simply ship vehicles into the region, said analysts.

The expansion of local operations reflects both the commercial opportunities in Europe and a more demanding trade environment.

Several Chinese companies are exploring ways to produce vehicles to better serve European customers.

Leapmotor announced at the show that production of its B10 electric SUV had begun at a plant in Zaragoza, Spain, operated through its partnership with Stellantis.

The facility allows the Chinese automaker to draw on its European partner's manufacturing infrastructure and industrial expertise, while producing vehicles specifically for the region.

Geely is pursuing a different route. In July, the company and Ford announced plans to establish a joint venture at Ford's Valencia plant in Spain. Subject to regulatory approval, the venture is expected to begin operations in the first half of 2027, with the first new vehicles scheduled to roll off the production line in 2028.

Other manufacturers are assessing their options. BYD has said France is among the locations it is considering for a potential factory, while Dongfeng's Forthing brand plans to establish a European vehicle assembly facility.

XPeng, meanwhile, has conducted production trials of its G9L flagship SUV at Magna's vehicle plant in Graz, Austria.

Aito, the Chinese premium brand backed by Seres and Huawei, announced plans to enter Europe in 2027. The company said it was working on regulatory certification and local operations, with vehicle development aimed at meeting European requirements and targeting a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating under the 2026 assessment regime.

Intelligent driving is another area in which Chinese manufacturers are seeking to distinguish themselves from established rivals.

XPeng brought its G9L flagship SUV to Paris for its global debut and participated in a public-road driver-assistance demonstration. Before the event, XPeng Chairman He Xiaopeng experienced the automaker's Navigation Guided Pilot system at the Arc de Triomphe roundabout, one of Paris' most challenging traffic junctions.

The demonstration placed the technology in a real European traffic environment, rather than limiting the presentation to a controlled test track or exhibition stand.

XPeng has also been testing its next-generation Vision-Language-Action technology on European roads, and plans to begin gradually delivering its advanced driver-assistance system to global customers from 2027.

Bloomberg reported before the show that Liu Xianming, head of XPeng's General Intelligent Center, said the company had taken about two weeks to transfer its system from one European country to another.

The speed of adaptation is significant because driver-assistance systems must account for differences in road layouts, traffic behavior, signage and national regulations.

A system developed for Chinese roads cannot simply be assumed to perform equally well across Europe without additional engineering and validation.

BYD's premium brand Denza also announced plans to introduce its God's Eye driver-assistance system in Europe, initially on the Z9 GT station wagon.

The company expects to deliver the feature through an over-the-air update in 2027, subject to the necessary development, calibration and regulatory approval, including certification under the United Nations' R171 framework.

Aito, too, has identified driver assistance as part of its European product strategy, saying its system will be adapted to local road conditions and driving preferences.

Chinese automakers are also broadening their powertrain offerings to address different European driving patterns and the changing policy environment.

At the show, BYD displayed both battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, including the Dolphin G DM-i hatchback developed for Europe.

Geely presented the Monjaro EM-i SUV, while Lynk & Co brought the 07 GT station wagon with its EM-P plug-in hybrid system. Other cars showcased a mix of battery electric, plug-in hybrid and range-extender technologies. The variety reflects Europe's uneven transition to electrification.

Battery electric vehicles may suit drivers with convenient home or public charging, while plug-in hybrids and range-extended vehicles can offer an alternative for customers who regularly make longer journeys or face less convenient charging access.

For Chinese automakers, sustained growth will depend on pricing, reliability, residual values, charging access, software performance and after-sales support — factors that shape consumers' experience long after a motor show closes.

The Paris exhibition illustrates how the terms of competition are changing. Chinese automakers are no longer relying on new models and competitive pricing to attract attention.

They are building production partnerships, adapting technologies to local conditions and assembling the commercial infrastructure needed to serve European customers.

Whether that translates into success will depend on their ability to turn visibility into trust and expansion plans into competitive businesses rooted in the region, said analysts.

lifusheng@chinadaily.com.cn