Something is coming our way

New e-cars are coming to Germany from China. A good handful of new models from several manufacturers await us this year. Their names are hardly known to many outside the automotive industry. But that should change. Everything indicates that e-cars made in China are here to stay.

MG, BYD, NIO: You should remember these Chinese car manufacturers

An e-car is no longer only available from Tesla for interested customers. One established manufacturer after the other has brought Stromer into its range. In addition to the electric pioneer from the USA, there are now more and more brands that rely exclusively on electric. China is at the forefront.

So have the past few days three Chinese brands reveal new details about electric cars, which will soon be sold in Germany. We now know more about what the e-cars made in China should cost here. So much can be revealed: Made in China is no longer a cheap label, but there are still good deals.

MG4 Electric has everything to become the new Golf

The currently most interesting electric car from the Far East – for me – is by far the MG4 Electric. The Chinese SAIC group has been behind the former British brand for years. With the MG 4 Electric, the Chinese, who are already selling on the German market, are now bringing the first electric compact car to us.

A quick look at the MG4 Electric:

The MG4 drives in with it Competition with the VW ID.3, the Opel Corsa e or a Renault Mégane E-Tech. Although SUVs and compact SUVs are becoming more and more popular, the compact class is still the supreme discipline to a certain extent in Germany. It is not for nothing that it is also referred to as the Golf class, so VW in particular should keep a close eye on the competitor.

Modernly equipped with connectivity functions and a range of either 350 or 450 km, the MG4 Electric is an announcement to the European top dogs, especially in terms of price: It starts at 31,990 euros. The ID.3, on the other hand, currently only starts at 38,060 euros. In addition, the Chinese want to deliver faster than VW and Co. can currently do.

BYD is bringing a wide range of e-cars to the Germany launch

That Chinese manufacturers themselves emancipated from the cheap image have, also proves BYD. The car manufacturer now only relies on electric drives and dares to ask for a lot of money for the start in Germany. For the electric sedan Han, which is considered a cheaper alternative to Tesla’s flagship Model S, the purchase price starts at 70,805 euros – a bargain compared to the Model S, but nothing for the small purse.

This also applies to the 7-seater SUV Tang. We assume a starting price of 71,400 euros. Only the Atto 3 – as a compact SUV it should be in great demand – will start much cheaper. The Stromer should cost 42,245 euros. All three models are to be offered in Germany this year.

NIO relies on exchangeable batteries as a unique selling point

The carmaker NIO, also from China, is still very young, but all the more successful. Founded in 2014, expansion to Germany is imminent. The NIO ET7 sedan will be the first model here. It is already listed at BAFA with a net price of 69,900 euros. Also NIO is self-confident with this price. The consistent reliance on exchangeable batteries is particularly evident in the start-up. Automated stations should take over and give NIO a time advantage over fast chargers.

The newcomers from China should be warmly welcomed. It is not for nothing that it is said that competition stimulates business. When new manufacturers dare to enter the German market with competitive e-cars, we customers ultimately benefit. Either by being able to choose the vehicle that better suits our needs – whether it comes from German, American or Chinese hands – or by the German regular brands having to come up with something really good so that they don’t get the same back home skins go swimming.