Munich Motor Show showcases Chinese car brands in Europe

Europe’s auto industry must make major financial and technological efforts to counter the advance of Chinese brands that set highly competitive prices for the production of electric vehicles (EVs) and batteries. right. This can be inferred from the Munich Motor Show (September 5th to 10th), which was held following the expansion of Frankfurt. Currently, the focus is on a mixed exhibition system using city squares and small exhibition centers.

Approximately 40% of the stands were occupied by Asian brands. Traditional manufacturers have fallen into a bit of a trap where turning the key leads to other problems. “We need to narrow the cost gap with the Chinese, who started developing electric cars many years ago,” Renault Group President Luca de Meo told Reuters, adding that Renault’s new VE R5 will be launched in 2025. He added that the arrival of the technology is imminent.

The main news of the show focused on electric vehicles. First, BMW presented a more general vision for his future 3 Series, focusing on 30 feet of range and battery charging. Combustion model and electric model coexist. Mercedes highlighted the next-generation CLA with daytime running lights inspired by the brand’s three-pointed star. The Tesla 3 has a slightly redesigned front and a price increase of $2,500 USD (R$12,500).
Inspired by his mysterious GTI version of the
Golf (pictured at the beginning of the column), VW has unveiled his ID concept model. The GTI won’t be on the market for four years. This is a VE that explicitly references the original style as opposed to the current rules.

Among Chinese people, the new AVTR brand, born from the partnership between Changan and Huawei (a major communications network), is gaining prominence. Model number 12 is 5 meters long and available in versions with one and two electric motors.

Among conventional automobiles, his two station wagons (trucks), the Passat Variant and the Class E All-Terrain, stand out for their breathtaking style.

The sixth generation Cayenne is also a hybrid

Since its launch in 2002, the Cayenne has been a model that represents the premium brand’s diversification into SUVs. Although this move was not well understood at first, sales proved to be the opposite. Be expected. This agreement ushered in the era of high-performance SUVs and influenced other pure sports car brands. An SUV coupe body was also added.

Now, the sixth generation is making its debut in EUA, and with more than just a simple redesign and a pre-sale of a hybrid version arriving in the first half of 2024. Porsche has also invested in improving the HD Matrix LED headlights, which have more than 32,000 pixels per headlight and six beam options. He has over eight different wheel designs with diameters up to 22 inches and larger outside diameter tires. The high, slightly curved front fender stands out.

As soon as you sit in the SUV, you’ll notice the new steering wheel, fully digital instrument panel (with the tachometer in the center as always), the air conditioning vents without slats and the gear selector on the right side of the dashboard . Easy access, 3 screens: 12.6 inch (instruments), 12.3 inch (multimedia), 10.6 inch (passenger). It features wireless pairing with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as inductive cell phone charging (up to 15W) with cooling.
The
Turbo GT version is the most impressive. Twin-turbo V8, 4 liters, 659 horsepower, 86.7 kgf・m. Its performance is impressive both on the road classification and on the Velocittà race track (Mogi-Guasu/SP), accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds. There’s even an adaptive roof deflector, which is a Porsche 911 tradition. In addition to the brand’s traditional excellent cornering balance and brakes, the Turbo GT is also the most expensive: R$ 1,385,000. But if you’re happy with “just” the Cayenne S and 474 hp/58.8 kgf·m, you’ll pay R$850,000.

There are two hybrid versions. E-Hybrid (470 hp, combined torque 63.7 kgf·m) for R$690,000, Turbo E-Hybrid (739 hp, combined torque 93.1 kgf·m), 0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds, R$1,135.00. The latter has lower power compared to the Turbo GT version due to the difference in mass (180 kg due to the battery).

BYD Seal Electric: spacious and attractively priced

In addition to the positive impact of the entry-level Dolphin model, BYD has caused a further shock in the market with the Seal sedan for R296,800. The lines of the sedan-coupe are attractive (even better in real life than in the photos), highlighted by light clusters at the front (with LED strips) and at the rear. Thanks to its 2,920 mm wheelbase, there’s plenty of space, especially for rear seat passengers, who also benefit from a flat floor. For luggage, there is 402 liters in the rear trunk and 53 liters in the front trunk.

The interior creates a great atmosphere with a panoramic sunroof and high-quality materials. Instrument panels can have higher resolution and color contrast. The rotatable multimedia screen is ample in size (15.6 inches). The seat behind the steering wheel is comfortable and heated and ventilated.
The highlight of the
seal is performance. There are two engines, one in the front and one in the rear, producing a total of 531 horsepower and 60.2 kgf・m. The response during acceleration is exciting and the needs-based 4×4 traction ensures very good cornering behavior. You might even “forget” that the total mass in driving condition is more than 2,185 kg. The evaluation route didn’t have many twists and turns, but the curves were very manageable.

Lane departure warning systems are very annoying and can’t be turned off. The suspension responds well even on uneven roads. However, with a ground clearance of just 120 mm, the car easily scrapes over speed bumps and ditches.

Inventory is increasing. Good for consumers

The auto industry increased production in his August. Sales of light and heavy vehicles amounted to 227,000 units, an increase of 24% compared to July. This result increased inventories in factories and dealerships from 29 days in July (a result of the Federal Government’s tax incentive program, already closed for light models) to 35 days in August. This points towards continuity of promotions now in September.

The appreciation of the real against the dollar also helped to reduce the prices of imported models and those produced here tend to follow suit. A greater recovery depends on a reduction in interest rates that has already started, but it is not yet known at what pace. In August, the daily sales average was 9,000 units. And Anfavea’s expectations for 2023 remain the same as at the beginning of the year: an increase in sales of 3% over 2022 to 2.168 million units.

In August, 1,167 electric vehicle models, including passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, were sold, accounting for 0.6% of the total. The market share in August 2022 was 0.5%, but it is expected to increase from this month onwards with the rise of Chinese brands.

Gandini Group In his 30 years he imported 450,000 Kia cars.

Business started modestly in 1993, after José Carlos Gandini founded Kia Motors IN EUA the previous year and began implementing a dealer network. Initially, he only sold 1,000 of his Besta, Besta Van, Ceres pickup trucks and K3500 light trucks for passenger cars.

In 2009, the company also became his Kia distributor in Uruguay and obtained a license to manufacture the Bongo K2500 light truck in the neighboring country. Upon completing 450,000 units imported from South Korea and Uruguay this year, the best-selling passenger models were: compact SUV Sportage (106,000 units), medium-compact sedan Cerato (71,000) and subcompact Picanto (42,000).