Author’s note: The text is not sponsored. I paid for my own trip and covered all expenses. Exploring the car dealership was a side trip, I went for the food which is even better than the car. If I get a Chinese car, I will pay for it myself.
After visiting car showrooms in several Chinese cities and carefully observing the roads there, we were left stunned. Modern, futuristically designed and technologically advanced vehicles dominate the streets, and what is most surprising is their price.
For the amount for which you can buy only a solidly equipped city car in Europe, a spacious, technologically advanced sedan or SUV is offered in China.
Unfortunately, these are not the Chinese cars we are currently seeing in Croatia. Chinese manufacturers are clearly implementing a market segmentation strategy. For developing markets, such as Indonesia, where every second car on the road is a Wuling, they are marketing extremely affordable and simpler models.
The “second echelon” is coming to Europe, including Croatia – brands like MG and Geely that offer a good price-quality ratio, but still do not represent the pinnacle of the Chinese automotive industry. The “first world”, such as Norway, where Chinese electric cars have become the standard, keep the best and most advanced models for themselves.
Quality and safety at the highest level
The quality claims are not just empty talk, as evidenced by statements from Western experts. A Ford CEO recently said of the Xiaomi SU7 that it was “the best car he had ever driven.”
Premium models are equipped with the latest technology, including advanced driver assistance systems (level 2 autonomous driving and above), huge infotainment screens with top-of-the-line software, and luxurious interior materials that rival European premium brands.
Safety is also at the highest level. Models intended for the European and Chinese markets regularly win the maximum five stars in the rigorous Euro NCAP and C-NCAP safety tests. For example, models such as the BYD Seal, NIO ET7, XPeng P7 and Omoda 5 achieved excellent results in protecting adult passengers and children.
On the other hand, cheaper models aimed at developing markets often have lower safety standards.
Division by league: What is offered on the Chinese market?
To give you an idea of what’s on offer, we’ve put together a table divided into three categories, with prices converted into euros according to the Chinese market.
Audi develops models for the Chinese market
Even AUDI in China is going a step further – the brand known for its German precision is now developing completely new models there designed exclusively for the Chinese market. Not weaker, but more modern and interesting. This is a strategic shift in which AUDI, in cooperation with local partners, is trying to redefine luxury through electrification and digital integration.
Leave a Reply