German Media Marvel: "We Can't Keep Up with Chinese Cars Anymore!"

At the 2025 Munich Auto Show, Germany’s Handelsblatt voiced a stark sentiment: “The pace of technological iteration for Chinese cars takes our breath away.” According to Reuters data, Chinese automakers’ market share in Europe has jumped from 2.4% in 2024 to 4.8% in the first seven months of 2025, with sales of electric vehicles (EVs) from brands like BYD and XPeng surging 250% year-on-year in the EU.

Germany’s Der Spiegel put it bluntly: “When Chinese automakers showcased megawatt fast-charging technology and flying car concepts, we suddenly realized the rules of the game have completely changed.” Behind this industrial disruption lies full-chain breakthroughs in China’s automotive industry. In 2025, China’s total auto exports are projected to reach 6.7 million units, with new energy vehicles (NEVs) accounting for over 30%.

BYD’s monthly sales in Germany have now overtaken Tesla’s. CATL’s battery factory in Hungary, with an annual capacity of 100 gigawatt-hours, powers half of Europe’s electric vehicles. Meanwhile, cross-sector support from tech giants like Huawei and DJI has enabled Chinese intelligent driving systems to cost 40% less than their German counterparts.

More worrying for German media is the struggle of German automakers with electrification transitions. Volkswagen Group was forced to lay off 35,000 employees due to sluggish sales of its ID series. BMW and Mercedes-Benz, in turn, have had to deepen ties with Chinese firms: BMW has integrated DeepSeek’s large language model into its entire vehicle lineup, while Volkswagen is collaborating with XPeng to develop its next-generation intelligent platform.

The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) admitted: “China’s advantages in batteries, software, and supply chains have formed insurmountable barriers. This transformation is reshaping the global industrial landscape.” BYD’s Hungarian factory is set to start production within the year, with plans to build a network of 2,000 stores across Europe by 2026.

Complementing these efforts, eight Chinese government departments jointly released the Automotive Industry Steady Growth Plan, which channels policy benefits—including export tax rebates and cross-border financial support—directly to automakers expanding overseas. As one German attendee at the Munich Auto Show put it: “We once taught the world how to build cars; now Chinese cars are redefining the future of automobiles.”

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News Origin: Douyin

Article Reviewer and Editor: Shan

Translation: Doubao AI

Database Location: China

Related News Media: Germany’s Handelsblatt

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