The MG ZS was the best-selling car in Spain in September for the second consecutive month. The Chinese brand of British origin registered 2,811 units in the ninth month of the year, multiplying by seven the results obtained in 2022, which accentuates the impact of the Asian giant’s manufacturers in the global automotive industry.
The sales success of MG’s compact-sized SUV is not the result of chance. It marks the upward trend of Chinese-made models both in Europe and in Spain. According to data from the association of car and truck manufacturers Anfac collected by Efe, in our country Chinese vehicles were purchased in 2022 for more than 1,399 million euros, 1,905% more than the previous year, when only 68 million were spent on these.
China closed 2022 with 3.11 million vehicles exported, 54% more than the previous year, according to data published by Business Insider. These exports allowed China to overtake Germany from second position and get closer to Japan, which topped the world ranking with 3.2 million units sold outside its borders last year.
Although MG has gained some notoriety in Spain this summer due to the sales success of the ZS model, there are other companies with 100% Chinese capital that are carving out a niche for themselves in the market. BYD, the brand that hides under the initials of Build Your Dreams, Lynk
Although price is the main hook that Chinese companies use to attract European consumers, this is not the only factor that influences their success in the market. Aspects such as design, technology or security also play a crucial role in the preference of users, who are increasingly inclined to opt for options that offer the best quality-price ratio.
Chinese manufacturers have abandoned the strategy of copying and replicating the design of the most iconic European models. When they realized that this ruse only served them to sell cars in the Asian market and that it had a limited reach outside their continent, they changed the trend. They decided to invest in car design to conquer the European market, hiring the services of prominent designers such as Italdesign or Pininfarina to achieve this goal.
In addition to taking care of the exterior appearance of their cars, Chinese manufacturers put all their efforts into improving the quality and design of the cabin. These efforts translate into interior spaces that offer comfort and cutting-edge technology for drivers and passengers.
The Chinese automotive industry has experienced rapid technological growth in recent years, investing heavily in research and development to compete globally. One of the highlights is the electrification of its vehicles, with companies such as BYD and NIO leading the charge in the production of electric cars with significant advances in battery efficiency and range.
Likewise, it is worth noting that some Chinese companies use the technology of highly proven drive systems, such as Bosch, Continental, Vitesco or Magna, to manufacture their components.
Augustin Friedel, senior director of the consulting firm MHP, owned by Porsche, admits that the Chinese automotive industry has taken a definitive leap forward in the last decade. “The quality of imported vehicles is no longer comparable to that of 10 or 15 years ago. The new models that are now exported to Europe no longer differ from what we are used to from Volkswagen or Stellantis in terms of production quality and appearance of materials,” he explains in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport.
Chinese companies have managed to get rid of the label that their cars are unsafe. For many years this was the case because the safety standards managed by the automotive industry in the Asian country were not even remotely the same as those required in Europe. Some models sold in Europe, such as the Landwind CV9, lacked side airbags and stability control.
Since 2011, when the MG6 and Geely Emgrand EC7 models obtained 4 stars out of a maximum of 5 in the Euro NCAP, the majority of Chinese cars obtain good results in this safety ranking that is a benchmark at the European level. Some of them, such as the Ora Funky Cat family car and the Wey Coffee 01 SUV, both manufactured by the Great Wall Motor company, have achieved the highest score.
The competitiveness of Chinese cars in the European market is largely supported by their economic attractiveness. Chinese manufacturers have managed to offer vehicles at lower prices compared to their Western competitors without significantly sacrificing quality and performance.
Large-scale production capacity and manufacturing efficiency have allowed Chinese brands to maintain lower production costs, which translates into friendlier prices for buyers. The MG ZS, the best-selling model in Spain in the months of August and September, starts at a base price of 17,190 euros. But it is not the only one that can be purchased for less than 20,000 euros.
Three internal combustion SUV models, such as the DFSK 500, DR3 and D4, as well as the electric MG4 with 350 kilometers of autonomy, are available on the market for less than that amount.
