Chinese EVs you can buy in Europe but not in the US

The European Union imposed its own trade restrictions on Tesla’s Chinese rivals in June – but unlike the US, many have a sizeable presence in the European market.

Here are some of the Chinese electric vehicles that European drivers can buy right now, but American drivers can’t:

BYD

BYD is expanding rapidly in Europe, and plans are underway to build two plants in Hungary and Turkey in the coming years.

The Warren Buffett-backed automaker sells six electric vehicle models in Europe — from the Dolphin Hatchback, which costs from 32,990 euros ($36,400), to the Han sedan, which starts at 69,000 euros ($76,100). in Germany.

Despite the EU imposing a 17% import tariff on BYD in August, the company is not slowing down. As it competes with Tesla globally, it plans to bring the $10,000 Seagull EV to Europe in 2025.

Nope

Chinese electric vehicle brand Nio is known in its home country for its battery swap stations, designed to prevent long charging times by removing dead batteries and replacing them with fully charged ones.

Like BYD, Nio has expanded into Europe, setting up battery exchange stations across the continent and selling six models as of May 2024.

That includes the sleek ET7, which Nio says comes with AI-powered suspension and an estimated range of 1,000 km (620 miles). range.

Xpeng

Xpeng is known for its wacky EV designs, including a flying car.

In Europe, the automaker sells its G9, G6 and P7 models in various markets, including Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

Zeekr

Chinese manufacturer Zeekr is one of many companies vying to take on Tesla in China. It has two models available in certain parts of Europe.

Both the Zeekr X and the Zeekr 001 are luxury electric vehicles priced between €42,490 and €59,490 ($46,800 to $65,600) in the Netherlands. The Zeekr 001 has an estimated range of 620 km (385 miles) and acceleration from 0 to 60 miles in 3.8 seconds.

Like many other Chinese automakers, Zeekr faces EU tariffs. CEO Andy An told Bloomberg that the company may therefore move production to Europe in the coming years.

GM

The historic British car brand MG is owned by one of China’s largest car manufacturers, SAIC Motor.

Since coming under the control of SAIC Motor, MG has moved some of its vehicle production to China and produced a number of electric models, including the MG4.

This electric hatchback starts at £26,995 ($35,300) in the UK, making it £12,995 ($17,000) cheaper than Tesla’s least expensive offering in the country.

MG also recently launched the Cyberster, a stylish electric roadster that is available for £54,995 ($72,000) in the UK.

So far, there’s no sign of the MG4 or Cyberster coming to the US – although MG plans to build a production plant in Mexico, a move that some US lawmakers have warned could give Chinese manufacturers a “back door” into the market american. .