Korean Media: China's Automotive Rise Becomes Reality, Surpassing Japanese Brands in Europe and Challenging the Sports Car Market!

On August 19, South Korean media outlet DongA Ilbo published an article stating that Chinese automotive brands have recently overtaken Japanese counterparts in the European market—traditionally regarded as the cradle of the automobile industry. Companies like BYD, leading the trend of high-value electric vehicles, are continuously expanding their market share.

Data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) on new car sales in May reveals that, among the 31 major European countries, domestic brands captured a 62.9% market share, ranking first. Following closely were China (12.0%), Japan (11.3%), and South Korea (7.5%). This marks the first time China has surpassed Japan to rank second in monthly vehicle sales across Europe.

Sales from five Chinese automakers—BYD, SAIC Group, Geely Group, Chery Automobile, and Zeekr—reached 138,410 units, up 65% year-on-year. Notably, BYD’s sales rose by 136.6%, while Chery’s surged by 244.1%. In contrast, six Japanese automakers—including Toyota, Nissan, Suzuki, Mazda, Honda, and Mitsubishi—experienced a 3% decline in sales, totaling only 130,424 units.

The expansion of Chinese automakers into the European market continues to broaden, covering an increasing variety of vehicle models. Recently, BYD’s premium brand Denza launched a challenge in the high-performance electric sports car segment across Europe.

Xpeng Motors’ recently unveiled L03 is the first all-electric SUV in its entry-level “Mona” series. Designed with the Ferrari SUV Proosange as a benchmark, the L03 was targeted at international markets—including Europe—from its initial development phase. At the global launch event for the L03 held in Munich, Germany, Xpeng Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng expressed strong confidence in localized production, stating: “We’ve personally developed a product fully tailored to meet the demands of European consumers.”

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1873919928036426/

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