A new car brand is for sale in Europe. Zeekr, a manufacturer of electric cars from the Geely stable, is crossing from China. This makes the influence of the Chinese on our car market a little bigger.
Zeekr is part of the Chinese car giant Geely, which is best known as the owner of the Swedish car brand Volvo. But Polestar and Lynk & Co are also sister brands.
Two models of the Chinese newcomer have been available to order for several weeks now. Another seven models will be added by 2025. The first deliveries are already planned for November in Sweden and the Netherlands, and sales are also starting in Germany. The automaker is aiming for almost all of Western Europe by 2025, the company said.
The arrival is striking
The arrival of Zeekr is striking, less than two weeks after the European Commission announced it would open an anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese electric vehicles.
LOOK. EU investigation into “too cheap electric cars” from China
“I can announce today that the European Commission is opening an anti-subsidy investigation into electric vehicles from China,” Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said during her State of the Union address. “Europe is open to competition. But not for a race to the bottom. We must defend ourselves against unfair practices.”
Not only in Europe, but all over the world, markets are being flooded by cheap electric vehicles produced in China, Von der Leyen said. “Their price is kept artificially low by huge government subsidies. And they disrupt our market. We do not accept this if it happens within Europe, but also not if it comes from outside.”
A Zeekr 009. © AFP
After the Commission President’s speech, the stock prices of several European automakers rose. The shares of Volvo, Renault, Volkswagen and BMW, among others, gained ground. Conversely, Chinese listed companies such as BYD were hit on the stock exchange.
Massively deployed on the European market
Chinese brands such as BYD are investing massively in the European market, at very competitive prices. BYD is present in fifteen European countries. In Sweden, for example, BYD’s Atto 3 crossover SUV was even the best-selling electric model in July.
How big is the influence of the Chinese on our car market? And what does this mean for the future? HLN mobility expert Brecht Vanhaelewyn analyzes.
European Commission wants to restrict Chinese cars: “Europe is open to competition, not to a race to the bottom”
Our car expert on how the Chinese are conquering the European car market: “These brands are hiding behind a European front” (+)
De Atto 3 crossover SUV van BYD. © REUTERS
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss anything from the stars.
Yes, I want free unlimited access
2023-09-25 10:29:19
#Chinese #car #brand #sale #Europe #controversy
