[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ theme_builder_area=”post_content” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text module_class=”article-title” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”|800|||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_font_size=”44px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”fp-introv2″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700|||||||” text_orientation=”center” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Nothing can prepare you for just how incredible and ridiculous China\u2019s car market is \u2013 futuristic, alien and so stacked with next-gen EVs you can\u2019t stop pointing.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”fp-byline” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_orientation=”center” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Words & images <\/b><\/span>Ted Welford<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flatplan-plus-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/10\/Chery-Fulwin-X3L.jpg” title_text=”Chery Fulwin X3L” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_class=”text-with-dropcap” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n At home I\u2019d like to think I could recognise just about every new car on the road. Here it\u2019s like a completely different universe, with so many new logos and cars I\u2019ve never even heard of, never mind seen.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n China is a fascinating car market for many reasons, but mainly for its rise of EVs and what it calls new energy vehicles (NEVs), grouping electric and plug-in hybrid models, identified by their green numberplates. These are easier and cheaper to purchase here than combustion vehicles, and the result is that around half of new cars are now NEVs. When you consider that more than 30 million new cars are sold in China every year, it equates to a staggering number of EVs on the road.<\/p>\n China\u2019s home automotive industry has advanced significantly in recent years. Whereas a decade ago, those with more wealth would have opted for a \u2018western\u2019 car brand, these days Chinese cars are so advanced and well-priced because of the economies of scale that there\u2019s little reason to buy from outside China. Foreign car brands now take around 30 per cent of total sales, compared to 62 per cent in 2020. It’s a trend that\u2019s hurting the established European luxury brands, who made hay when China couldn\u2019t get enough of their cars. And that number is only expected to fall further.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Landing in Shanghai, my first time in China, I took a four-hour car journey to Wuhu, the base of Chinese automotive maker Chery.<\/p>\n After a week on the roads in and around the city, these were the things that blew my socks off. <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”small-subhead” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700||on|||||” text_font_size=”12px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Everything looks like a Defender<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”img-col-v3″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”20px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||20px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flatplan-plus-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/10\/iCaur-Defender-clone.jpg” title_text=”iCaur Defender clone” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flatplan-plus-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/10\/iCaur.jpg” title_text=”iCaur” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flatplan-plus-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/10\/Chery-Fulwin-X3L.jpg” title_text=”Chery Fulwin X3L” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ theme_builder_area=”post_content” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n There\u2019s been a huge surge in demand for rugged-looking off-roaders in China in recent years, driven by a rise in its citizens enjoying more leisure time and exploring the country\u2019s vast open spaces outside of its sprawling cities.<\/p>\n It means there are loads of Chinese-made cars on the road looking a lot like a Jeep Wrangler or Land Rover Defender. Chery is leaning heavily into this with its iCaur brand, while also making the funky Chery Fulwin X3L). Both would likely do well if they were sold in the UK.<\/p>\n There are plenty of Xiaomis, the hotted Chinese car brand on the planet<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flatplan-plus-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/10\/Xiaomi.jpg” title_text=”Xiaomi” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flatplan-plus-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/10\/Xiaomi-SUV.jpg” title_text=”Xiaomi SUV” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Xiaomi is essentially China\u2019s Apple, best known for making smartphones and tech, and in 2021 it decided it was going to start making cars \u2013 the first of which, the SU7 saloon, was delivered in 2024.<\/p>\n Highly impressive from the off, Xiaomi has gone about chasing and beating Porsche at the \u2019Ring lap records and introduced its second model, the YU7 SUV, only in July 2025, which makes it all the more impressive seeing how many are already on China\u2019s roads.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”small-subhead” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700||on|||||” text_font_size=”12px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The driving\u2019s loose and the motorways have \u2018lasers\u2019<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flatplan-plus-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/10\/MotorwayStrobes.jpg” title_text=”MotorwayStrobes” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n I\u2019ll never complain about the UK\u2019s lane discipline again after enduring the driving in China. Lane hogging is just the norm here, as nobody ever changes lanes unless they\u2019re undertaking. Depending on the aggression of a taxi driver, the weaving in and out of traffic, the flashing of the headlights and the horn beeping, it\u2019s like being in Mario Kart.<\/p>\n Adding fuel to this fire are insane lasers that fire strobe lights from some of the motorway gantries and speed camera-like flashing lights. The official reasoning is that they help to keep drowsy drivers awake on China\u2019s tediously long motorway journeys, but they seem like more of a distraction to me.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”small-subhead” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700||on|||||” text_font_size=”12px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Nio\u2019s ET5 Touring is a flex<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flatplan-plus-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/10\/Nio.jpg” title_text=”Nio” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Will Nio actually come to the UK? The firm has toyed with the idea for several years but has yet to commit to a date. It\u2019s a shame given it\u2019s one of the most innovative Chinese brands, not least for its battery swap stations that enable you to have a fully charged EV battery in the time it would take to put a tank of diesel in.<\/p>\n You can already buy a Nio in other parts of Europe, but they\u2019re rarely spotted, which makes seeing so many of them in China all the more interesting. The ET5 Touring is possibly Nio\u2019s most interesting car, not least because estate cars aren\u2019t very common here. My local tour guide says a Nio estate is what the cool parents drive here.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”small-subhead” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700||on|||||” text_font_size=”12px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n American cars are cool (despite the trade wars)<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flatplan-plus-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/10\/Cadillac-Lyriq.jpg” title_text=”Cadillac Lyriq” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Considering the recent issue surrounding US-China trade wars, you\u2019d think that the last thing someone would want to drive in this part of the world would be something with an American badge. But you\u2019d be wrong, as there\u2019s a surprising amount of representation from US brands here, particularly from Cadillac and Buick.<\/p>\n But the vast majority of \u2018American\u2019 cars here, even before the trade war, are Chinese market-specific and produced in the country, though, including this cool Cadillac Lyriq.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”small-subhead” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700||on|||||” text_font_size=”12px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Huawei x Chery = Luxeed<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flatplan-plus-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/10\/Luxeed-S7.jpg” title_text=”Luxeed S7″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Given we\u2019re in the city where Chery is headquartered, there\u2019s unsurprisingly a big representation of its own-brand models, including Luxeed. Full disclosure, I\u2019d never even heard of the firm before, but it\u2019s doing well in China with its S7 saloon (pictured) and R7 crossover.<\/p>\n Luxeed is all the more interesting, though, because it\u2019s a joint venture between Chery and Huawei, the latter providing its technology and automated driving solutions. It\u2019s a brand that could have potential in Europe but is restricted because of Huawei\u2019s restrictions in the region surrounding its 5G network, including in the UK.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”small-subhead” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700||on|||||” text_font_size=”12px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n A lot of the cars drive themselves <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n While Europeans keep banging on about the imminent arrival of self-driving cars, the reality is that it\u2019s already a thing in China. It\u2019s led the way, with plenty of new cars already equipped with hands-off capability.<\/p>\n You see plenty driving autonomously too, distinguished by their turquoise lights on the front, rear and side. Given the standard of driving, you can\u2019t help but feel it would be a lot better if it was all automated here\u2026<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”small-subhead” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700||on|||||” text_font_size=”12px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n This Seat Ateca is actually a Volkswagen Jetta?!<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flatplan-plus-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/10\/Ateca-Jetta.jpg” title_text=”Ateca Jetta” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Badge-engineering is, of course, not just a phenomenon in China, but there are some particularly brilliant examples here, not least from the Volkswagen Group. \u2018That SUV looks a lot like a Seat Ateca, \u2019 I thought to myself.<\/p>\n Turns out that\u2019s exactly what it is, only in China the Ateca exists under Volkswagen\u2019s standalone Jetta brand, created in 2019 following the success of the VW Jetta here. Volkswagen also markets the Cupra Tavascan as the VW ID.Unyx here as Cupra doesn\u2019t exist in China. A strange world.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”small-subhead” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700||on|||||” text_font_size=”12px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The BMW i3 you never knew it existed<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flatplan-plus-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/10\/BMW-i3.jpg” title_text=”BMW i3″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The BMW i3 is best known as the funky electric hatchback sold throughout most of the 2010s, and though BMW is bringing the i3 back in 2026 as a proper electric 3-series, a car doing just that has existed for the Chinese market since 2022.<\/p>\n Its styling is an odd mix of a regular 3 Series saloon mixed with the rear bumper of an i4, and it\u2019s marketed as the i3 eDrive35L.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”small-subhead” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700||on|||||” text_font_size=”12px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Everything is a long-wheelbase<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n One somewhat refreshing element of China\u2019s car market is that, while there is a growing demand for SUVs, saloons are still hugely popular here.<\/p>\n Though most Chinese car makers sell their own four-door cars, it\u2019s still an area where Western manufacturers \u2013 and especially German brands \u2013 can take advantage of. But it\u2019s the country\u2019s obsession with long wheelbase cars that will never not fascinate me \u2013 even smaller saloons such as the Audi A3 are market-specific, \u2018L\u2019 versions offering more length and rear-seat space. Both factors are still considered a status symbol in China.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#000000″ divider_weight=”3px” module_class=”divider-thin” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Nothing can prepare you for just how incredible and ridiculous China\u2019s car market is \u2013 futuristic, alien and so stacked with next-gen EVs you can\u2019t stop pointing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":2985,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2978","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature"],"acf":[],"modified_by":"kschwarz","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/car\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2978","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/car\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/car\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/car\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/car\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2978"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/car\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2978\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2994,"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/car\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2978\/revisions\/2994"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/car\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2985"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/car\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2978"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/car\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2978"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/car\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2978"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}