跨国车企的“廉价”小车反攻

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the increasing competition in the European electric vehicle (EV) market, highlighting the strategies of multinational car manufacturers to counter the growing presence of Chinese brands like BYD and MG by launching more affordable electric models [3][5]. Group 1: New Electric Vehicle Launches - Kia has confirmed the launch of its new entry-level model, the EV2, which will debut at the Brussels Motor Show on January 9, 2026. This compact electric SUV is set to be the smallest and cheapest electric vehicle from Kia, targeting a price point around €30,000 [3]. - Volkswagen plans to reintroduce its classic Polo as an electric model named ID. Polo, which will be based on the new MEB+ platform and is expected to start at €25,000, with a launch planned for spring 2026 [3]. - Renault, Nissan, Hyundai, and Ford are also set to introduce more economical electric models in 2026, with Renault's new electric Twingo expected to be priced below €20,000, relying on Chinese components for about 40% of its parts [4]. Group 2: Market Dynamics and Competition - Despite facing increased tariffs, Chinese brands are making significant inroads into the European market. In the first 11 months of 2025, the total registration in the broad European market reached 12.099 million vehicles, a 1.9% increase year-on-year, with electric vehicles driving this growth [5]. - The sales of pure electric vehicles reached 2.276 million units, marking a 27.4% year-on-year increase, while plug-in hybrid vehicles saw a 33.1% increase with 1.149 million units sold [5]. - Among the top ten car manufacturers in Europe, SAIC (mainly MG) ranked eighth with sales of 274,000 units, a 26.1% increase, while BYD ranked tenth with 160,000 units sold, experiencing a substantial growth of 276% [5][6]. Group 3: Emerging Chinese Brands - Chinese brands like Leap Motor and Chery's Omoda have shown remarkable growth in the European market, with Leap Motor's electric vehicle sales surging over 4000% year-on-year, and Omoda's sales increasing by 1100% during the same period [6].