Europe’s established car manufacturers should be braced for an electric vehicle (EV) “price war” ahead of an influx of new Chinese brands in 2023 and beyond, according to Grant Thornton.

The accounting and consulting organisation’s head of downstream automotive, Owen Edwards, said that Chinese carmakers were already waging war on their rivals in a trend that was set to accelerate as they increasingly targeted Europe as a region ripe for expansion.

The latest edition of Cox Automotive’s Autofocus industry report pointed out that BYD – launching in the UK this year – was the strongest-performing Chinese OEM in 2022, with EV and hybrid sales up 132% at 1.62m units.

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The latest AM industry special issue

Spotlight on the customer

In this issue:

What consumers really want - trends and habits dealers must understand to provide the right buying experience

Barriers to EV purchase - many private motorists need extra help before they take the plunge

Delighting used car buyers - it's essential for retailers to offer tailored experiences and great value

Aftersales customer care - valuable interactions are vital as dealerships face fishing in a diminishing pool

A customer-first future - Steve Young, ICDP MD, gives AM an exclusive insight.

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