The auto industry has charged Paris with electricity – Auto – Kommersant

Yesterday, October 23, the International Motor Show ended in Paris, which was forced to take a four-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the main trends was the wide representation of Chinese automakers, which at one time were openly laughed at at European car dealerships for failing crash tests and copying European models. Another trend of the Paris Motor Show was the abundance of electric models that have already entered the daily agenda of the automotive industry and have not been perceived as curiosities for a long time.

The Chinese moved in

The last International Motor Show in Paris was held in 2018. The show is held every two years, so the next salon was supposed to take place in 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was canceled. However, the pandemic still continues to affect the global automotive industry – problems with the supply of chips and interruptions in components. lowered auto sales in many countries to multi-year lows. Against the backdrop of ongoing problems, many leading concerns were not represented in Paris.

However, those who nevertheless managed to prepare their novelties attracted the attention of experts and journalists. Among them in the first place were automakers from China.

Not so long ago, some Chinese automakers were openly laughed at for failed crash tests and even sued because of copying models of European companies. But now Chinese cars conquer positions not only in the European market, but also in the world.

China’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer in the world BYD presented at the Paris exhibition three new models: the compact SUV Atto-3, designed primarily for the European market, the seven-seat all-wheel drive crossover Tang and the sports sedan Han. Atto-3, priced from €38,000 and with a power reserve of 430–510 km on a single charge, has already won excellent marks in the EuroNCAP European crash test. Sales of new BYD models in Europe should begin before the end of the year. The Chinese company plans to start conquering the European market from Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Sweden, the Netherlands and Great Britain.

Another Chinese automaker, Great Wall, brought its division to Paris ORA, which deals only with electric vehicles. ORA showed two models – a charged Funky Cat GT compact car that can travel up to 480 km on a single charge and costs €36,000, and an ORA Lighting Cat sedan with a very capacious battery for 700 km of travel. Sales of ORA Lighting Cat in China will begin this week, sales launch dates in Europe have not yet been announced.

Strength of current and hydrogen

The abundance of electric and hybrid models at the Paris Motor Show could not fail to notice even the most ardent supporters of automotive traditions and the slogan “Fuck fuel economy”. In addition to Chinese automakers, a whole scattering of new electric models was presented by the international concern Stellantis (an alliance of the Italian-American Fiat Chrysler and the French PSA). The public saw new electrical modifications of popular models: the Peugeot 308 compact (e-308), the e-308 SW station wagon and the e-408 crossover. However, the French did not stop at electricity alone this year – Citroen showed the first hydrogen modification of his popular Jumpy minibus – e-Jumpy, and Peugeot — minibus Expert — e-Expert — with a power reserve on one charge up to 400 km.

The success of Tesla electric vehicles in the US market has not gone unnoticed by Stellantis. At the Paris Motor Show, the alliance’s member brand Jeep introduced its first all-electric model, the Avenger, with a range of 400 km. European sales of the first electric Jeep will begin next year, and in 2025 the American brand will release three more electric models.

The manufacturer of racing cars also thought about ecology and fuel economy Alpine: the company introduced the concept Alpenglowthat will run on hydrogen. Thanks to the new design and the abundance of carbon components, the racing car will not only be environmentally friendly, but also very light – only 1082 kg.

Speaking at the Paris Motor Show, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares announced ambitious plans concern in the development of electric and hydrogen transport.

By the end of 2024, the concern plans to launch sales of 24 new models of electric vehicles. “And by 2038, we plan to produce only cars with zero carbon emissions, which will give a competitive advantage not only to us, but also to France and all countries where our production is located,” the head of the concern emphasized.

Evgeniy Khvostik