This year, Europe’s biggest motor show was not the focus of attention on France’s brilliant concept cars, but rather China. THE Wall Street Journal reports that about a third of all brands at the Paris Motor Show were Chinese, up from less than 10 last time to 20, with companies like BYD, Li Auto and XPeng rolling out feature-rich electric and hybrid models offered to European buyers. BYD revealed an SUV that it says can charge quickly, Li Auto showed off a luxury vehicle with massaging seats and a giant rear window, and XPeng demonstrated a supervised autonomous driving test around the notoriously chaotic Arc de Triomphe. “Welcome to the Paris Motor Show,” write Stephen Wilmot and Ryan Felton, “although this year it could be forgiven for mistaking it for a Chinese auto show.”
The rise to power isn’t just a showroom spectacle. Chinese brands now account for more than 11% of European car sales, putting pressure on European automakers, triggering job cuts and pushing European officials to impose new limits on Chinese imports of hybrids. Beijing-backed companies are pledging to produce “in Europe for Europe” and are even eyeing the continent’s high-end market, while U.S. industry groups warn that Europe’s experience should serve as a warning. To get the big picture – and the political and economic issues – read the full article in the The Wall Street Journal.
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