That’s it, the world’s number 2 electric car finally arrives in France
Chinese manufacturer BYD will be present at the Paris Motor Show, which takes place from October 17-23, while marketing cars in Europe is scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of 2022.
BMW, Audi, Citroën, Ferrari, Hyundai, Kia, Porsche, Toyota… Not all the manufacturers mentioned will be present at the next Paris Motor Show, which will take place from October 17th to 23rd in Paris, Porte de Versailles. Trade shows no longer attract manufacturers for a number of reasons : exorbitant participation costs, little media coverage (one novelty crowds out the next) and little (if any) profitability.
Many manufacturers, including French ones, will not be taking part in the Paris Motor Show this year. However, the world returns with a new formula after a four-year absence following the health crisis. Though those absent will be numerous, several manufacturers will still be present, and especially those who have new products to present. Among those who will have a stand are in particular Peugeot, Renault, Alpine and DS among the French, Mercedes, Smart, Jeep or even some brands still relatively unknown to the general public such as Hydrogen car manufacturers Hopium and NamX.
An arrival in Europe at the end of the year
And among the manufacturers that are gradually becoming well known and present at the Paris event will be BYD (build your dreams). The Chinese brand has just announced this, according to a press release. The public thus has the opportunity to discover a new manufacturer and last but not least as it is the number 2 electric car in the world.
At the moment, BYD is not yet established in the European Union, however However, the brand has been marketing its SUV Tang in Europe and specifically in Norway since 2021. Why Norway? Quite simply because it is the most mature European market for electric cars and a good laboratory for future developments in the old continent.
BYD in France at the end of the year?
BYD will therefore be present at the Paris Motor Show and will use the great mass of the automobile to promote its products to customers who will soon see these models on the road. Because at the same time BYD plans to expand its distribution network in Europe from the fourth quarter of 2022.
We don’t yet know if the French market will be affected by a late-year arrival, as BYD has not yet formalized the list of affected countries for late 2022. However, the Netherlands should be in the lot. because the Chinese brand has recently teamed up with Dutchman Louwman, one of the most important distributors in Europe.
BYD in brief
As a reminder, BYD Company was founded in 1995 and today holds almost 65% of the world market for nickel-cadmium batteries. he’s also the world market leader in lithium-ion batteries with a 30% market share. Contrary to what one might think, the main customers are not car manufacturers, but manufacturers of mobile phones such as Nokia or Samsung. After that, in 2003, BYD wanted to diversify into the automotive field with the acquisition of Qichuan Automobile Company, a Chinese manufacturer of small cars.
The beginnings in the industry were complicated, particularly due to the Chinese authorities’ plan to consolidate the industry around the major state brands. However, BYD has laid solid foundations and even participated in a 2008 European Motor Show, held in Geneva, with the presentation of a rechargeable hybrid sedan, the F3DM. In Europe, BYD sells and produces electric buses, forklifts and trucks. The brand even has a factory in Hungary, where it employs 300 people and produces up to 400 electric buses a year.
Which models for our market?
While BYD markets an electric city car, two SUVs, a minivan and a limousine in China, there is only one electric SUV in the catalog in Norway: the BYD Tang. This model is also scheduled to hit our streets in the next few months.
The BYD Tang is a large SUV with seven seats and a battery capacity of 86.4 kWh capacity This means that a range of 400 km can be displayed in the WLTP mixed cycle and up to 528 km according to the same standard in an urban environment. In terms of efficiency, we fare much better, for example a Tesla Model Y drives 533 km in the combined cycle with a battery of around 80 kWh.
The Tang integrates a 7 kW on-board charger with DC charging up to 110 kW. The car is equipped with a 180 kW (approx. 245 hp) electric motor, sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 180 km/h. It is marketed for 619,900 Norwegian kroner, i.e. around 62,500 euros without taxesas Norway does not levy taxes on electric vehicles.
See you at the Paris Motor Show in October to hear more about BYD’s arrival in France!
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