These 5 electric cars do not exist in France, and that’s a shame

For reasons of standards or commercial strategies, many electric cars are not available in Europe. The most telling example is the Tesla Cybertruck, a pick-up which does not comply with European safety instructions. Well, it is not certain that there is a market on the Old Continent for this behemoth. However, there are others that we would really like to see arrive on our land. Here is a list of 5 electric vehicles that could perhaps arouse the interest of the French.

Xiaomi SU7: the electric sedan of Mr. Everyman?

It is perhaps the electric car that European motorists are waiting for the most. Unveiled in March 2024 in China, the Xiaomi SU7 embodies the promise of accessible electricity. This sedan, designed and developed by the smartphone giant Xiaomi, is differentiated by three very specific characteristics: its design, its price and its performance. Sold from 215,900 yuan (around 27,500 euros) in China, this Taycan at the price of a Model 3 has all the ingredients to be a hit in Europe.

From our Chinese friends, the SU7 is available in three versions: Standard, Pro and Max. If we rely on the success of the Tesla Model 3 in France, we can imagine that this electric sedan will also be able to sell. With the taxes on entry into the European market, which have even just been reinforced, its price would not be quite the same. But Xiaomi would probably position itself just below Tesla’s model. The SU7 combines autonomy (up to 830 km in CLTC cycle), power and recharging speed.

Also readXiaomi will not sell its electric car in Europe anytime soon

This is the kind of model that the French are waiting for. The Chinese brand offers its sedan in 9 different colors, as well as 4 colors for the interior. This is also part of the brands’ new strategy to convince new customers. It remains to be seen whether motorists in France will be ready to buy a Chinese car. Products made in China still suffer from a bad image. But with electric cars and a brand already very well known in France, it may be different.

Li Mega: the French love minivans

The minivan market has lost its luster in France. The Peugeot 807, Citroën C8, Chrysler Voyager and other Volkswagen Sharans have not been popular for several years. They have been replaced by SUVs, with the Tesla Model Y in the lead. But some manufacturers are trying to give minivans a second chance. With the advent of electric power, these large family vehicles are being reborn from their ashes. The Chinese Li Auto has been marketing the Li Mega for several months.

This road monster has some good points to make. The model differs in particular by its charging capabilities. Equipped with a 102.7 kWh pack (in 800 volts), the Chinese minivan displays a peak charging power of 522 kW. No vehicle in Europe is capable of absorbing so much energy. On the Old Continent, the Lotus Emeya is the car best placed in this area with a peak at 400 kW. But the Li Mega does much better: it can regain 500 km of autonomy in 11 minutes.

Also readVideo – Charging this electric car takes barely longer than a full tank of gasoline

So that electric minivan customers have terminals powerful enough to achieve this charging speed, the brand is developing its own infrastructure in China. The Li Mega is only available in one mechanical configuration: 2 motors, 544 hp, 542 Nm of torque for a maximum speed of 180 km/h and 0 to 100 km/h in 5.5 s. A 7-seater vehicle, which is not cheap. In China, the model starts at 559,000 yuan (or around 72,800 euros).

Nio ET5 Touring : le break au Battery Swap

In recent years, sedans and SUVs have also taken over station wagons. Brands have had to adapt. But the trend could well be reversed. Volkswagen recently presented the ID.7 Tourer and Audi has just revealed its new Audi A6 e-tron with an estate version. Chinese manufacturers are also banking on this segment. Nio notably markets the ET5 Touring, a rather sexy electric station wagon. A model available in China, but also in Europe (Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark).

The Chinese firm is known for its “ Battery Swap “. In countries with existing infrastructure, Nio vehicle owners can change batteries in minutes rather than recharging. Two options are available in Europe: a 75 kWh pack (530 km range) or another of 100 kWh (680 km range). A 150 kWh version is also available in China, enough to reach 1,000 km of autonomy without needing to recharge.

With the ET5 Touring, Nio is positioning itself against German station wagons with BMW, Audi and Mercedes in its sights. Available from 47,500 euros in Germany, the Chinese model has good arguments and could probably find a place on the French market. In our country, the station wagon market seems to be on the rise again since 2022. An electric station wagon with such good performance could allow certain reluctant motorists to take the plunge. France is a priori in Nio’s sights.

JiYue 01: for high-level autonomous driving

Two Chinese giants have joined forces to roll out a new brand called JiYue. The association of Geely and Baidu recently gave birth to the JiYue 01, the very first electric vehicle equipped with the Apollo suite developed by Baidu. This system offers level 4 autonomous driving functionalities. Currently, no other production vehicle has this level. Available only in China at the moment, the JiYue 01 should show the way for other automakers to follow.

Thanks to its autonomous driving features, the Chinese electric model is capable of changing lanes and overtaking on its own, maneuvering on highway access and exit ramps, avoiding obstacles on several lanes, identifying traffic lights, letting pedestrians pass, avoiding non-motorized vehicles, etc. This 100% electric model is based on Geely’s SEA platform. it is offered with two battery variants: 71 kWh (550 km range) or 100 kWh (720 km range).

The JiYue 01 is also the first production model to be equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8295 chip. This gives it intelligent features, including voice recognition and support for gesture and visual interactions. By order of its owner, the JiYue 01 is capable of parking itself. It can pick up passengers up to 2 km away. In China, the model is available from 249,900 yuan, or around 31,000 euros. The brand has no plans to establish itself in Europe.