European automakers are finally catching up when it comes to developing electric models. But their Chinese counterparts are looking beyond, diversifying their offer and drawing on high-tech features.
All of this comes against the backdrop of trade negotiations between the European Union and China. In mid-October, European Commissioner for Trade Maroš Šefčovič reached an agreement with China on imports of Chinese hybrid cars, capping them at 350,000. Also in mid-October, France and Germany agreed to relax the CO2 reduction target for new cars set for 2035, lowering it from 100% to 90%, which would ease the burden on European carmakers.
It remains to be seen if cheap, tech-boosted Chinese cars will continue to hold an allure for European consumers. But Chinese brands were out in force at the Paris Motor Show in October, making a play for European drivers by emphasising their technological prowess.
BYD launches ATTO 8 and Flash charging
BYD is a case in point. The Chinese company started as a battery manufacturer before entering the automotive sector in the early 2000s. But according to executive vice president Stella Li, speaking at the Paris Motor Show, BYD is more than a car company. It is a technology company, she argued, a focus that was clear from the presentation of its latest model at the show.
The brand’s newest SUV, the ATTO 8, is a seven-seater with 775 hp, a WLTP range of 653 km thanks to its 115 kWh Blade battery, and a 136-litre frunk. Sales in Europe are expected to start in early 2027.
The SUV also introduces “Flash charging” technology to the BYD range, which allows the battery to be recharged from 10% to 97% in nine minutes in normal temperatures. “This car really shows the power of technology,” said Li. This capacity, however, requires Flash charging infrastructure. The company stated that a network expansion should see 3,000 stations installed across Europe by the end of 2027.
The ATTO 8 joins a lineup of roughly a dozen cars offered by BYD on the European market, including the Shark pick-up truck, which uses BYD’s Super Hybrid DMO plug-in hybrid system. The goal, as BYD country manager for France Dorothée Bonassies put it, is to offer different solutions for electrification and to have 200 dealerships in France by the end of 2026. Luxembourg currently has two BYD dealerships.
XPENG presents G9L, showcases autonomous driving
XPENG chairman and CEO Xiaopeng He described his company as a “physical AI company.” “When we were founded 12 years ago, our vision was to transform mobility with technology,” he said. The company’s strategy today continues to reflect that. XPENG’s business centres on four core pillars (AI cars, humanoid robots, robotaxis, and flying cars).
Its luxury SUV, the G9L, premiered at the Paris Motor Show, where the XPENG CEO highlighted its imposing stance, intelligent doors, adaptive seats, sound insulation, intelligent parking assistance, and a WLTP range of up to 591 km.
But beyond the new SUV, whose price in France starts at €74,990, XPENG also showcased its autonomous driving capabilities in Paris. The company’s Next Generation Pilot (NGP) VLA 2.0 technology was tested on the streets of the French capital in October. In March, XPENG announced that it was targeting global deployment of VLA 2.0 by 2027.
AITO set for Europe in autumn 2027
Another Chinese brand at the Paris Motor Show does not yet have its cars on European roads, but was still keen to drum up interest. AITO, which stands for “Adding intelligence to auto,” was founded in 2021 and is a brand of the Seres Group. As its name suggests, AITO aims to put technology at the heart of its products.
“We believe a vehicle should be a mobile intelligent agent that understands you and responds to your needs. That’s why we introduced our brand philosophy, intelligence redefining luxury,” said Clifford Kang, board member and vice president of Seres Group. “For AITO, new luxury is where traditional luxury meets technological luxury.” The brand aims to offer comfort, craftsmanship, and performance, all whilst integrating technology into the driving experience.
The AITO lineup includes five luxury SUVs and has more than 1 million customers in China. The brand is now preparing its entry into Europe, building up localised support and customer service teams and developing features tailored to the European market, said Kang. It will officially launch in autumn 2027.
Chery Group’s Omoda 4 goes for a “starship cockpit”
China’s Chery Group was present in Paris in October, displaying models from the Chery, Omoda, and Jaecoo brands for the first time. According to Shawn Xu, CEO of Omoda & Jaecoo International, growth is largely driven by “new energy vehicles” such as EVs and PHEVs. “Today, our new energy vehicle sales account for 81% of total sales,” he said. “This proves that global users like the product very much.”
The compact crossover Omoda 5 Next made its European debut at the show, promising “forward-looking styling and enhanced comfort.” The Omoda 4, which made its French debut, features the “Cyber Mecha” design philosophy. “It looks like it comes from the future,” said Xu, pointing to its geometric headlights, sharp, aggressive face, and “starship cockpit” atmosphere.
Linktour bets on lightweight engineering
Linktour, which was acquired by the Chinese group Weiqiao in 2023, was in Paris to present its ultra-compact city cars, including a special model called Alumi by Spinzi, a collaboration with the Milan-based designer. Thanks to their aluminium construction, the electric two-seaters are lightweight, which, as Linktour France president Frédérick Gian argued, means higher efficiency, more range, and greater durability. “The ambition is to go towards 100% recycled aluminium, so literally from can to car.”
The brand’s L6e version has a top speed of 45 km/h and a range of 120 km, and does not require a driving licence, whilst its L7e version has a range of 180 km and a top speed of 90 km/h, but does require a licence. Linktour has more than 20 dealerships in France and aims to double that before the end of the year, with a target of 100 points of sale by 2027. Luxembourg has two dealerships.
And in Luxembourg?
Chinese brands still account for a small share of the Luxembourg market, but they are growing much faster than the market as a whole. From January to September 2026, 1,658 new cars from Chinese brands were registered, already 39% more than in the whole of 2025 (1,196). Their market share has thus risen from 2.5% to 4.4%, whilst the overall market grew by just 3.1% compared with the first nine months of 2025.
MG leads the way (376 registrations), ahead of Jaecoo (320), BYD (310), and Omoda (232), followed by Leapmotor (101), XPENG (92), Forthing (84), and BAIC (71). Jaecoo has more than tripled its registrations compared with 2025, whilst DFSK has all but disappeared.
