The Chinese Came to Paris Dressed to the Nines
We all remember the fear-filled posts and editorials from around five years ago. "Oh, no! Chinese automakers will invade Europe with cheap cars!" It turns out that was only partially true, and the problem is worse than many expected. Yes, Chinese automakers enjoy a cost advantage for a number of reasons, and tariffs on EVs and voluntary quotas on hybrids will help level the playing field.
But here's what few people didn't foresee: the Chinese aren't just playing in the bargain basement. They're going after the European SUV flagships with “9”-badged full-size, three-row luxury SUVs with electrified powertrains, LIDAR-supported automated driving, and sumptuous interiors. No, they don't have the heritage of a Range Rover or a Mercedes, and, to my eyes, the designs are attractive but generically interchangeable. But for brand-agnostic buyers looking for a comfortable, powerful, technologically sophisticated luxury off-roader, the leaders at JLR, BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and others should keep a close eye on these players.
Aito 9 (price tbd; ~€60-73,000 in China): Aito is a joint venture between Seres and software giant Huawei; the 9 (or M9) is offered in EV or EREV variants, with up to 900hp. Cool tech includes dual-million-pixel smart headlights, 192-channel LIDAR, and a 25-speaker, 2080-watt audio system.
Avatr T09 (price tbd; ~€65-69,000 in China)): Avatr is a joint venture between Changan, Huawei, and battery giant CATL; the T09 concept is an 'international' variant of a vehicle already on sale in China. It features a 1000hp 2.0-liter tri-motor plug-in hybrid with an EPA equivalent EV range of about 200 miles.
Xpeng G9L (~€75,000): This EV startup is ten years old and is already building cars in Europe (in Austria) with the help of supplier Magna. The G9L is a long-wheelbase, three-row variant of the G9 developed specifically for Europe. Features include a 21" rear entertainment screen and four-wheel steering, as well as a choice of EV or EREV powertrains.
Zeekr 9X (~€120,000): One of the many brands in the Geely portfolio, Zeekr has been selling in Europe for three years already. Europe gets a dual-motor, 2.0-liter, 897hp plug-in hybrid powertrain and a 900V electrical architecture that can charge the battery to 80% in under 10 minutes.
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