Behind the reversal of Europe's perception of electric vehicles towards China

The special program "Automotive Industry: China's Rise" broadcasted by BFM Business Channel in France this year has sparked extensive and profound discussions in the European industry. The guests of the program generally believe that Chinese electric vehicles have firmly established themselves in the European market with the advantages of the entire industry chain and efficient iteration capabilities, and the trend of the global automotive industry shifting eastward is becoming increasingly clear.

A cognitive reversal about Chinese cars is quietly happening in Europe, from "latecomers" to "transcendents".

How fast are Chinese cars "running" in the European market? The data provides the most intuitive answer. According to statistics from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, the overall market share of Chinese car companies in the European market has climbed to 9.5% in the first half of this year, and reached 10.9% in June alone, far ahead of the industry's widely estimated time point of "breaking through 10% by 2030". In May of this year, Chinese brands surpassed Japanese car companies for the first time in terms of new car registrations in major Western European markets, ranking first among Asian brands. The rapid refresh of sales figures has become the first driving force to reverse the inherent impression of Europe.

However, what truly touches the nerves of the European industry is not only the rising numbers, but also the full chain iteration capability demonstrated by the Chinese automotive industry. In the program, Jacques Leger, an automotive industry expert who had long worked for the Faurecia Group, recalled his observations at the 2024 Beijing Auto Show and bluntly stated that when a large number of new car models were unveiled in front of him, the scale and intensity of China's new energy vehicle transformation shocked him: "This is a big mountain, a huge tsunami

What amazed Laire was the qualitative change in the entire industrial ecosystem behind it. He noticed that Chinese car companies are redefining the logic of automotive research and development, forming an industry ecosystem deeply intertwined with vehicle manufacturers, battery suppliers, software companies, consumer electronics manufacturers, and component companies. According to his estimation, the research and development speed of Chinese car companies is about twice that of their European counterparts, but the comprehensive research and development cost is only one-third of it. This not only means cost advantage, but also represents a more sensitive response to consumer demand.

The recognition of China's automotive full chain system capability is becoming a common consensus in the European industry. Xavier Fengta, former president of Essilo Group, stated on the program that the leap of China's automotive industry is the result of long-term technological investment, industrial capacity accumulation, and full market competition. After visiting the Shanghai Auto Show last year, Sigrid de Vries, Director General of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, described the evolution pace of China's automotive ecosystem as "China speed". In her view, the future of Chinese car companies is no longer about "whether to go global", but a strategic choice of "when and how to go global".

Not only are there cognitive changes in the industry, but also changes in consumer choices. According to a survey conducted by market research firm Escalante on five countries including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK, the proportion of respondents willing to consider purchasing Chinese brand cars has increased from 31% in 2024 to 47% in 2025, surpassing American brands for the first time. More and more young European consumers are linking Chinese cars with innovative design, intelligent configuration, and leading electric technology. When I took a ride hailing service in France, I communicated with several Chinese brand car owners, and almost everyone gave positive feedback on the vehicle's configuration, energy consumption, and user experience. The image of high cost-effective products is becoming increasingly stable in the local market.

In recent years, Chinese industrial products represented by electric vehicles are gradually reshaping Europe's traditional impression of "Made in China". However, at the same time, the attitude of European public opinion towards Chinese electric vehicles remains complex and diverse: there is admiration for technological progress, as well as vigilance against domestic industry competition pressure; There are calls to protect the local market, as well as practical considerations to learn from China's experience and deepen industrial cooperation. More and more Chinese car companies are planning to build production bases in Europe, promoting the localization of production capacity and deep integration of industrial chains.

For Europe, the real question should not be how to block the arrival of Chinese cars, but whether it can use this competition to reignite its innovation vitality, upgrade its industrial system in a new round of technological change, find a balance between green transformation, industrial security, and open cooperation, and find its own positioning in the new map of the global automotive industry.

Under the wave of green transformation in the global automotive industry, open cooperation and embracing change are far more in line with Europe's long-term interests than building walls for self-protection. Facing the challenges and inspirations brought by China's speed may be the starting point for Europe to reshape its competitiveness in the automotive industry.