Upcoming threat from China's Tiger Looming?

A new page dedicated to the progress of Chinese brands has been added (on page 6) as these companies are set to increase their presence in Europe's automotive market.

In the second half of 2022, brands like BYD, Great Wall Motors Ora (BEV), and WEY (PHEV) are expected to boost shipments to Europe. BYD, in particular, has ambitious plans to increase its electric vehicle deliveries to Europe, with plans to locally produce in Europe from 2025 onwards.

Other Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers with a growing presence in Europe include NIO, Aiways, MG, and Xpeng, but it's BYD that has the clearest expansion intentions for the latter half of 2022.

The influx of Chinese-made vehicles in Europe isn't limited to electric models. Over 100,000 BEVs have arrived this year with Western badges, including vehicles from Tesla, Dacia, and BMW. Additionally, an extra 94,600 vehicles with Chinese brand badges have made their way to Europe in 2022.

The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) predicts a 100% increase in vehicles arriving from China in 2022 compared to 2020, amounting to 196,883 vehicles. The remaining vehicles are expected to be conventionally powered.

Brands such as Aiways to Zhidou, spread over almost 20 brands, have also arrived with Chinese brand badges in Europe. The second half of 2022 is expected to be smoother for Chinese automakers in Europe due to the resolution of COVID-related shutdowns.

Approximately 80,000 to 90,000 of these vehicles are expected to be pure electric vehicles (BEV), and around 40,000 are predicted to be plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). In 2022, it is expected that 200,000 passenger car models across all drivetrains will arrive in Europe from Chinese OEMs.

SAIC's MG brand and Geely's Polestar accounted for 33,300 of the 37,000 Chinese BEV brand models delivered during the opening 7-months of 2022. A spokesperson for SAIC's MG stated that the COVID-related shutdowns in Shanghai during the first half of 2022 are no longer having an impact, and the second half of the year is likely to be smoother than the first.

Geely's JVs Smart and Lotus are expected to be the next Chinese brands to export vehicles to Europe, potentially making 2022 the first year a balance of payments trade deficit with China, in terms of FBU vehicle movements, will be achieved. With exports to China remaining just below 0.5 million units from 2016 to 2020, this shift signifies a significant change in the automotive landscape.