Latest news with #car market
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Europe's new car market reverses in June amid rising Chinese competition
Europe's new car market posted a sharp downturn in June, with monthly registrations falling by 4.4% year-on-year to 1.25 million units, according to data from JATO Dynamics covering 28 European markets. The decline was led by steep drops in Italy (-17%), Belgium (-16%), and Germany (-14%), while Romania recorded an alarming 50% fall in volumes. 'This is not an isolated dip,' said Felipe Munoz, Global Analyst at JATO Dynamics, a UK-based provider of automotive data, analysis, and intelligence. 'Persistently high prices, economic uncertainty, and the long tail of the pandemic are weighing on consumer confidence.' He noted that the region has lost over 2.5 million units in annual sales since 2019. So far this year, 6.84 million new cars have been registered across the region — 17,728 fewer than in the same period last year, marking a 0.3% year-on-year decline. Chinese brands surge As Europe's overall market contracts, Chinese automakers are gaining ground rapidly. In the first half of 2025, their market share nearly doubled to 5.1% — just shy of Mercedes-Benz (5.2%) and ahead of Ford (3.8%). In June alone, Chinese brands outsold Mercedes. Driving this growth are five key players: BYD, Jaecoo, Omoda, Leapmotor, and Xpeng. BYD's aggressive pricing helped it register over 70,500 units in H1 — up 311% year-on-year — with 15,565 units in June alone. Its Seal U plug-in hybrid tied with the Volkswagen Tiguan as the best-selling PHEV last month. Leapmotor, boosted by strong sales of the T03 and C10, registered more than 8,300 units in June. Meanwhile, Xpeng emerged as the leading high-end Chinese brand, with 8,338 units sold in H1 — most of them G6 SUVs. Legacy brands struggle Major players are feeling the heat. Stellantis saw its market share fall to 15.3% in H1, its lowest since the group's creation in 2021. Registrations dropped by 8.6% in the first half, and 11.7% in June. 'Stellantis is suffering from a lack of new models and a heavy reliance on more expensive BEVs,' Munoz said. Tesla also saw market share shrink, falling from 2.4% in H1 2024 to 1.6% this year — overtaken by SAIC-owned MG. The updated Model Y has yet to deliver a significant sales boost, with registrations up just 0.1% year-on-year in June. BEVs break one-million barrier Despite headwinds, battery-electric vehicle (BEV) registrations passed the one-million mark for the first time in H1 — totalling 1.19 million units, up 25% year-on-year. June's BEV growth, however, slowed to 15%. BEVs now account for 17.4% of the new car market, led by Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Ford and Volkswagen Group posted strong increases in BEV share, while BYD and SAIC shifted toward other powertrains amid tariff concerns. Renault dominates model rankings The Renault Clio topped the sales charts in June with over 27,200 registrations, ahead of the Tesla Model Y. For H1, the Dacia Sandero — also part of Renault Group — took the top spot overall. Among the fastest-growing models were the MG3 (+258%), Fiat/Abarth 600 (+400%), and Audi A5 (+149%). New entrants like the Renault Symbioz and Jaecoo 7 also made strong debuts, registering 41,730 and 37,700 units respectively. Europe's auto market remains under pressure as macroeconomic conditions weigh on consumer demand. Yet, in this uncertain environment, the rise of Chinese brands and the continued growth of BEVs highlight a market in rapid transition. As Munoz put it, 'The post-pandemic market reality is taking shape — and it's a very different landscape from what we knew just a few years ago.' "Europe's new car market reverses in June amid rising Chinese competition" was originally created and published by Motor Finance Online, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
News.com.au
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Zeekr 009 Grand: Could this be the most luxurious people mover ever?
A new breed of beast is lurking in the Australian car market, and it's not a typical SUV or sedan. These machines are all about space, speed and luxury, and they might just be the most opulent people movers to hit Australian roads. The first is called the Zeekr 009 Grand, and it's a sub-variant of the already luxurious Zeekr 009 currently on the market. Zeekr, a member of the Geely group alongside Volvo and Polestar, initially unveiled the standard 009 in 2024, offering six or seven-seat variants priced from $135,900 and $139,900 before on-road costs. Sales have increased since the launch, with 66 vehicles sold through June of this year. Zeekr is looking to further explore uncharted territories with a proposal to introduce a more luxurious 'Grand' version of the 009. The Grand doesn't have a confirmed price for Australia; however, the variant has already hit the Chinese market at a price that's roughly double that of the standard 009 variant. It's by far the most luxurious vehicle I've sat in. From the inside out, the Grand is packed with features you'd typically expect in a high-end hotel suite. For starters, passengers can enjoy complete privacy thanks to a world-first revolutionary glass technology that offers 10 levels of adjustable window tinting. There are two reclining airline-style rear seats mounted behind the C-pillar, designed with legroom and passenger comfort in mind. Each seat is 24-way power adjustable and separated by a raised centre console that houses a touchscreen control pad for the massive 43-inch LED rear entertainment screen as well as a 31-speaker Yamaha surround sound system and an 18-litre refrigerator. The cabin itself is wrapped in hand-polished stainless-steel elements and real Himalayan marble, making it feel more like a private jet than your typical people mover. Like the base 009, the Grand features a dual-motor electric powertrain that can propel the people mover from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds in this application. For a car that weighs over three tonnes, that's pretty impressive. According to Zeekr, this variant offers a driving range of up to 702 km on China's optimistic CLTC test cycle. While the Grand would be welcomed to Australian showrooms, there's no guarantee it will be produced in right-hand drive at this stage. Zeekr is in the process of investigating the viability of a conversion for the Grand, which will be informed by the sales performance of other 009 variants globally. If Zeekr decides to make a right-hand variant and bring it to Australia, who would they compete with? Well, for starters, there is the Lexus LM500H. Priced from just over $220,000 (before on-roads), the top-spec Ultra Luxury version is a four-seat private jet on wheels. Power comes from a 2.4-litre turbocharged hybrid set up, delivering a combined 273kW to all four wheels — a far cry from the electric Zeekr, but still potent. Inside, the LM is kitted out with a 48-inch wide-screen display that can be split between passengers for personalised entertainment. There's also a mini fridge, plush Ottoman seating, and noise-cancelling technology. Then there's BYD's luxury sub-brand Denza, which is tipped to arrive in Australia by the end of 2025 with its first model, the Denza D9. The D9 has been a runaway success in China, selling nearly 118,000 units in 2023. The top-spec versions are expected to cost around AUD $126,000 locally, though pricing hasn't been finalised. Buyers will be able to choose between three plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants and two full-electric versions, with driving ranges ranging from 600 km to 970 km, depending on the configuration. Inside, the D9 offers up to four or seven seats, a 15.6-inch floating touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital driver's display, and a head-up display. A 2024 refresh added electric suction doors and more premium touches aimed at family buyers with a taste for tech. If Denza launches the D9 here, it will add another high-end, hi-tech option to Australia's emerging premium electric people mover segment — one that values sustainability as much as comfort. It seems clear that several brands believe there's a growing market for luxury people movers. It is a niche that combines high-end comfort with cutting-edge technology and sustainability. This emerging demand could be the convincing factor that pushes Zeekr to bring their 009 Grand to Australian shores, offering buyers an entirely new level of opulence in the electric vehicle segment.
