Latest news with #BYDSealU
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Lynk & Co turns to PHEV with 200 km electric-only range in bid to end sales slump
GOTHENBURG, Sweden — Geely subsidiary Lynk & Co is looking to reverse a steep sales slump in Europe with the addition of the 08, a midsize SUV that can drive 200 km (124 miles) in electric-only mode. Lynk & Co's sales of its two-model lineup, the 01 compact SUV and 02 compact hatchback, through April were down 33 percent to 1,653, according to figures from market researcher Dataforce. The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle will be aimed at car buyers reluctant to switch to full electric. 'For plug-in hybrid customers, we think the long electric range will stand out as a clear upgrade,' Lynk & Co CEO Nicolas Lopez Appelgren told Automotive News Europe during a driving event for the 08 here May 13. 'EV drivers, on the other hand, may see it as a more practical option given the current state of charging infrastructure. And for high-end petrol buyers, the similar price point could make switching to a plug-in hybrid an easy decision.' Until recently, the electric-only range on most PHEVs was less than 100 km — and in many cases only about 50 to 60 km. Several automakers debuted long-range PHEVs with bigger batteries — the 08's pack is 39.6 kilowatt-hours — toward the end of 2024 ahead of a Jan. 1 deadline that increased emissions ratings for the technology to better reflect real-world use. At the same time, some Chinese brands launched PHEVs in Europe, notably BYD, to avoid EU tariffs on battery-electric vehicles made in China. PHEV sales were up 32 percent in April, according to Dataforce. The bestselling model last month was the BYD Seal U, followed closely by the Volkswagen Tiguan and Volvo XC60. Sign up for the Automotive News Europe Focus on Electrification newsletter, a weekly wrap-up of the latest electric vehicle news, including interviews and global EV sales data. Lynk & Co also will avoid the higher tariff on the China-made 08. The midsize SUV enters a part of the segment that has seen huge growth this year, with overall sales of models with PHEV powertrains up more than 200 percent to 51,823 after four months. Seven of the 10 top-selling PHEV midsize SUV are new to the niche. Another limiting factor for PHEVs was the time it took to replenish the batteries, often several hours using AC charging. PHEVs with longer ranges offer DC fast charging, which for the 08 means it's possible to boost the batteries to 80 percent from 10 percent in about 30 minutes at 85 kilowatts. Using AC charging at 11 kW means charging to 100 percent take four and a half hours. The 08 offers a combined 345 hp of power from its four-cylinder gasoline engine and electric motor. The 08's cockpit is dominated by an iPad-like touchscreen in the center of the dashboard, below which is an inductive pad to provide wireless charging for up to two smartphones. Built-in car sharing, integrated Wi-Fi, a specially designed Harman Kardon sound system, and advanced driver-assistance features — from park assist sensors to driver monitoring — are included. Customizable 'modes' are also available. They include a 'relax mode,' with soothing music and sunshades, and a 'pet mode' that turns on the climate control system and displays a message informing passersby that the pet is safe from freezing or overheating and that the owner is aware it is inside the vehicle. The 08 comes in two trims, Core and More, with the More package offering larger wheels, heated rear seats and an upgraded Harmon Kardon sound system. Target buyers: Range-anxious families What's good: Having an electric-only range of 200 km What's bad: Constant warnings from the driver-assistance systems that are likely to force more people to turn them off Launch date: June 2025 Starting price: €55,995 in Germany ($63,500) Platform: CMA Evo Built: Yuyao, China Annual production forecast: 6,000 in 2025, 12,000 in 2026 Lowest CO2 emissions: 23 g/km
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Chinese EV sales slow in Europe in Q1, posing risk of emissions fines
TURIN — Sales of Chinese brands in Europe continued to grow at a torrid place in the first quarter, but their EV sales have been hobbled by new EU tariffs, putting big automakers, including MG and Chery, at risk of paying fines for missing their emissions targets. Sales of Chinese cars were up 78 percent in the first three months of the year to 148,096, according to preliminary figures from market analyst Dataforce, while the European market was flat. Chinese market share increased to 4.5 percent from 2.5 percent in the same period in 2024. But sales of Chinese-built EVs rose only 29 percent, about the same as the overall EV market, and their market share was 7.9 percent, unchanged from a year earlier. At the same time, sales of plug-in hybrids rose 368 percent (from a low base), and their share nearly tripled to 14 percent. EVs represented 29 percent of Chinese sales in the quarter, down from 41 percent in 2024. Sign up for the Automotive News Europe By The Numbers monthly newsletter delivering data and commentary on European sales. Sales of full-hybrid and gasoline models were up 100 percent for a 47 percent market share, from 44 percent in 2024. The EU has proposed giving automakers three years instead of one to meet their 2025 emissions targets with a 'bank and borrow' system — meaning that they can fail to meet targets in one of these years and hope to catch up the following years. However, the new CO2 limits will still mean that automakers have to sell 20 to 25 percent EVs. MG Motor, which is owned by SAIC, and Chery Automotive could miss their 2025 CO2 targets if the trajectory of their sales mix continues for the rest of the year, Dataforce figures show. MG, with an electric share at 13 percent in the first quarter, is more than 15 grams above its target of 95.7 grams of CO2 per km, preliminary figures from Dataforce show. Chery's two European brands, Omoda and Jaecoo, have a 6 percent EV market share and a 20 percent plug-in hybrid market share. Chery's fleet CO2 emissions are 47 g/km above its target of 94 g/km. MG recently signaled that it could seek to avoid fines by pooling emissions with other automakers or reducing its share of gasoline-only models, which was 38 percent in the first quarter. Chinese automakers with a high share of electric and plug-in sales are well below their individual CO2 targets and able to pool with other automakers. Volvo and Polestar, which are part of Geely, will pool with Mercedes-Benz and Smart (a 50-50 Mercedes and Geely joint venture). Mercedes will be the director of the pool and benefit from Volvo's EV-heavy lineup and Polestar and Smart's EV-only range. BYD, which last year sold only EVs but has quickly ramped up sales of PHEVs in Europe, is still 80 grams below its target. In the first quarter, BYD's PHEV share was 39 percent, and the BYD Seal U was the bestselling PHEV in Europe in March. In February, Alfredo Altavilla, the former Fiat Chrysler executive who serves as BYD senior adviser for Europe, said that the Chinese automaker was in negotiation to pool its emissions in Europe. According to preliminary estimates by Dataforce, in the first quarter total CO2 emissions in Europe were 11 grams above the average target of 93.6 grams. Electric-only Tesla has already pooled with Stellantis, Toyota, Ford, Mazda, Subaru and Honda for 2025. Overall, in the first quarter MG remained Europe's bestselling Chinese automaker with sales up by a third to 76,583, preliminary figures from Dataforce show. BYD, which almost quadrupled sales to 27,365 units, ranked second, ahead of Chery's Omoda and Jaecoo, which grew to 15,663 units from a mere 413 in the first quarter last year. Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Insider
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- Business Insider
These 6 Chinese EVs are giving Tesla a headache in Europe
Tesla's sales are collapsing in Europe amid an Elon Musk-inspired brand crisis. It also faces growing competition from Chinese EV firms like BYD, which has seen sales surge. Here are six Chinese electric cars that are giving Tesla a headache in its third-biggest market. Tesla has had a nightmare start to the year, and nowhere more so than in Europe. The automaker's sales across the continent have dropped by 37% in the first three months of the year, according to figures from market researcher Dataforce, as it battles a global brand crisis tied to CEO Elon Musk's involvement with the Trump administration. Once all but the only EV player in town, Tesla now faces a wide array of competitors in Europe, adding to the company's woes. Some of those new rivals are from China. Not content with crushing Tesla in their home market, Chinese firms like BYD are expanding rapidly overseas, particularly in Europe. Although Tesla still dominates the EV market in Europe, and Chinese automakers have only a small presence, sales data suggests they are catching up. BYD saw its sales balloon from around 7,000 in the first three months of last year to 27,000 over the same period in 2025, an increase of nearly 300%, per Dataforce's figures. As Tesla fights to hold on, here are some of the Chinese EVs that should trouble Elon Musk in Tesla's third-largest market. BYD Seal U BYD has launched a flood of models in Europe over the past year, but the Seal U is the one that should be making Tesla nervous. The Chinese automaker has sold around 12,400 of the hybrid SUVs this year, with over half of those sales coming in the past month. Like many of its Chinese rivals, BYD has placed a renewed focus on hybrids, which Tesla does not sell, in Europe, as they are exempt from the tariffs on imported Chinese electric cars introduced by the European Union last year. BYD Dolphin Another entry in BYD's line of aquatic-themed EVs, the all-electric Dolphin made its European debut in 2023. The electric hatchback has sold around 4,500 units so far in 2025, a 175% increase from the same period last year. The $35,000 EV will soon be joined by the Dolphin Surf, the European brand name for BYD's Seagull hatchback, which sells for as little as $7,800 in China and is set to go on sale this year. MG ZS Historic British car brand MG was acquired by Chinese giant SAIC Motors in 2007, and its lineup of affordable EVs and hybrids is currently going toe-to-toe with the US automaker in Europe. MG has sold 36,400 of its MG ZS hybrid so far in 2025, a 44% increase from the same period last year. That surge saw the $30,000 compact SUV outsell Tesla's Model Y, which competes in the same segment, in the first three months of the year. MG3 MG sales have also been boosted by its $25,000 MG3 hybrid, which launched in Europe last year and has sold 15,200 units so far in 2025. The carmaker's sales surge has turned SAIC Motors into one of the biggest threats facing Tesla in Europe. The state-owned Chinese brand's sales overtook Tesla's in the first two months of 2025, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association. Leapmotor T03 Jeep and Chrysler owner Stellantis has partnered with Chinese EV maker Leapmotor to sell its cars in Europe, and the T03 EV was one of the brand's first cars to come to the continent when it launched late last year. The $21,000 "city car" is just 3.6 metres long and has a range of up to 263 miles. Leapmotor and Stellantis have sold 2,500 of them this year in Europe. Polestar 4 Swedish brand Polestar, which is owned by Chinese conglomerate Geely, has been aggressive in its attempts to snatch market share from Tesla. CEO Michael Lohscheller told Bloomberg he had told his salespeople to target Tesla owners, describing the backlash against Musk as an opportunity for the EV brand. Sales data from Europe suggests it might be paying off, with Polestar seeing its sales double to over 9,000 in the first three months of the year. The surge was driven by the Polestar 4, which launched in Europe last year. The luxury electric coupe, which is manufactured in China, has sold 4,700 units so far in 2025.
Gulf Insider
10-03-2025
- Automotive
- Gulf Insider
The World's Best-Selling Cars In 2024
In this graphic, Visual Capitalist's Marcus Lu ranks the world's best-selling cars from 2024 using data compiled by Statista. With Tesla sales sputtering in the early days of 2025, it's possible that the once untouchable EV maker could start to fall down the rankings. We can see in this graphic that Toyota, the world's biggest automaker by sales, has two models close behind the Model Y. To stay competitive, Tesla recently revealed its long-awaited Model Y refresh codenamed 'Juniper'. With a fresh exterior design and new interior, Juniper could also help Tesla stay on pace with China's fast-growing BYD. Coming in at #9 is the BYD Song, a series of compact crossover SUVs sold in gasoline, plug-in hybrid, and pure EV configurations. The model is exported to European markets as the BYD Seal U, and in Southeast Asian and Oceania as the BYD Sealion 6. While the bulk of BYD's sales come from its home market, China, the brand is making impressive progress in other countries. In Australia, the Sealion 6 became the country's top-selling plug-in hybrid (PHEV) in 2024. As of March 5, 2025, BYD shares (ADR) are up 34% YTD, while Tesla shares have fallen by -31%. Despite the drop, Tesla remains the world's most valuable automaker with a valuation of $898B, down from its December 2024 peak of $1.4T. If you enjoyed this post, check out A Regional Breakdown of Automaker Sales on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist. Also read: The Porsche 911 Is the Best-Selling Car in the Tiny Principality of Andorra
