Significant increase in car imports from China expected in Europe

Automotive experts at Chemnitz University of Technology expect car imports from China to rise significantly in Europe. This year, about 600,000 vehicles are to be expected, in 2025, already 1.1 million, explained Professor Werner Olle of the Chemnitz Automotive Institute on Monday. This would increase the share in new registrations from 5.0 to 7.5 percent.

The competition for European carmakers is growing, especially in electric cars. "Since the vehicles imported from China are far predominantly battery electric vehicles, the share of this market segment is significantly higher," Olle stated. Here, he said, a share of almost 20 percent of new registrations in Europe can be expected in 2023. This could then rise to more than 25 percent by 2025.

With a cost advantage of several thousand euros, the vehicles from Chinese manufacturers are "absolutely competitive" not only in terms of price, but also technologically. This applies above all to battery technology, he said. In international competition, China not only benefits from enormous advantages in the availability and price of important raw materials and batteries for e-cars, it said. The size of the domestic market also allows manufacturers large volumes and corresponding cost advantages.

"In comparison, Europe currently has bad cards," explained Dirk Vogel from Netzwerk Autozulieferer Sachsen (AMZ). Among other things, he cited high energy costs, a multitude of regulations and a premature discontinuation of tax incentives. This burdens the competitiveness of German and European companies and repeatedly slows down the implementation of electromobility.