China dominates Paris Motor Show with eye to electric European market
There was a strong east wind blowing through the recent Paris Auto Show, the biennial showcase for the European car market. Among expected marques such as Citroen, Peugeot, VW and Mercedes, nearly 25 Chinese electric automakers, from LI Auto to Geely and Zeekr, nudged their way onto center stage at the pivotal Port de Versailles event. Days earlier arriving at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, I…
The recent Paris Auto Show, a biennial European car market showcase, saw a strong influence from China. Among the expected marques like Citroen, Peugeot, VW, and Mercedes, nearly 25 Chinese electric automakers, including LI Auto, Geely, and Zeekr, made significant appearances at the crucial Port de Versailles event. These companies had arrived days prior at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, where they were greeted by advertising posters featuring Daniel Craig, the British actor and James Bond, serving as a brand ambassador for Denza, a joint venture between China’s BYD Auto and Germany’s Daimler.
This was not jet lag but a reality check. Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) made their debut in 2006 with the Great Wall brand, and today, about 25 out of the 60 major exhibitors were electric brands from China, doubling the number from 2024. The Chinese EV industry is aggressively expanding into the fragmented and sometimes struggling European marketplace, where iconic French brands such as Citroen, Renault, and Peugeot are facing serious market pressures.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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