Chinese Automakers Dominate Paris Motor Show as U.S. Brands Retreat

The Paris Motor Show this week has become a showcase for Chinese automakers, who are making the biggest splash at the biennial industry event while American brands have largely disappeared from the European stage. Wall Street Journal European autos reporter Stephen Wilmot, reporting from the show floor, described a scene where Chinese manufacturers are offering vehicles with premium features at dramatically lower prices — often half the cost of comparable European models — and European consumers are responding enthusiastically.

At the BYD stand, Wilmot noted "quite a few Renault engineers who were checking out the competition," alongside buyers who repeatedly cited "amazing value for money." The Chinese brands are also pushing into luxury segments with a distinctly different approach to what constitutes premium: "much more about internal comforts, massage seats, big screens, cooling boxes, that kind of thing, rather than the kind of driving handling quality that the German brands are traditionally known for." The most striking data point: last month, the best-selling car in Britain was a Chinese brand called Jaecoo, made by Chery, China's largest car exporter. The vehicle channels the look of a Range Rover while selling for roughly half the price.

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