American test of three Chinese electric vehicles: “this is a warning signal”

Tesla’s Chinese rivals XPeng, Zeekr and Avatr have impressed two US auto industry veterans.

The threat of cheap but high-quality Chinese electric cars is scaring the global auto industry. The United States recently announced that it would increase customs duties on these vehicles to 100%, thus banning them from circulating on American soil for the moment. The European Union is also considering raising tariffs, and Bloomberg learned Thursday that Canada is seriously considering doing the same.

But how good are these Chinese electric vehicles really? Are they a real threat to traditional automakers around the world, or is this just political posturing? Most Americans – and most American journalists, for that matter – have no way of becoming familiar with these cars and seeing what all the fuss is about. So it’s a real treat when Western automotive experts get acquainted with Chinese electric vehicles and share their impressions with the rest of us.

China makes excellent electric vehicles

China has become the dominant global power in the electric vehicle sector, thanks in part to aggressive industrial policies that have pumped billions into electric vehicle and battery manufacturing. Its cars are very competitive in cost and quality, critics say. But recently increased U.S. tariffs are aimed at keeping Chinese electric vehicles off U.S. roads.

Caresoft, a Detroit benchmarking company, imported three Chinese electric vehicles of different sizes, brands and price points and invited John McElroy from Autoline News to take them for a ride.

McElroy’s Verdict: “This is a wake-up call for all legacy automakers around the world.”

Chinese vehicles were not only solidly built, fun to drive, and packed with impressive technology. They also cost significantly less than a comparable electric vehicle in the United States. Here, electric vehicles still tend to be more expensive than gasoline vehicles, with the average new electric car changing hands for around $56,648 in May.

Caresoft President Terry Woychowski, whose job is to help automakers understand the competition, said Chinese cars offer excellent value for money. The idea that Chinese products are inherently inferior or cheaply made has completely disappeared.

“Price-wise, and if you look at the quality that they offer, it’s really great quality,” Woychowski said. “It’s a lot of value at this price.”

(See the specifications and prices of the cars tested below, cited by Autoline. The Tesla Model Y is used as a reference. The range figures are based on the Chinese testing procedure and are not the same as the figures for the US EPA.)

Of the three cars shown, perhaps the best showcase of this value is the Zeekr X, a compact crossover made by the Geely Group, which also owns brands you may have heard of like Volvo and Polestar. It is closely related to the Volvo EX30, but apparently with better specifications. (Our own Kevin Williams also reviewed the Zeekr X, if you want a deeper dive.)

This Zeekr Additionally, the X offers premium amenities like a head-up display, suede-like material on the pillars, and doors that open and close electronically with the press of a button. The center console, which can slide electronically forward and backward, also has cooling and warming functions. The Zeekr X also has a huge central touchscreen that can slide across the dashboard for easier access to the front passenger.

You’d be hard-pressed to find this many things like this on real luxury cars in the United States. And yet the Zeekr X costs about as much as any regular grocer in the United States.

“That’s why traditional automakers are so afraid of what’s coming from China,” McElroy said.

The car also ran well, McElroy said. He noticed interior rattles in previous tests of the Tesla Model Y and XPeng G6, but not in the Zeekr. “This car is rock solid,” he said.

It’s basically the same value story with the other cars McElroy and Woychowski tested.

At $32,317, the XPeng G6 SUV costs $5,000 less than a Model Y, a direct competitor. Still, it drives about the same as the Tesla, has a more interesting interior and is comfortable, McElroy said. While the Model Y cuts costs by having a single central screen, the Xpeng also offers a digital gauge cluster behind the steering wheel.

“I think Xiaopeng has a real, serious competitor to the Model Y here,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Avatr 12 sedan, at $55,667, offers a luxurious Napa leather interior, a 34-inch full-width screen at the bottom of the windshield, and reclining seats. Plus, it’s equipped with a 900-volt system for super-fast charging (most US-market cars run on 400 volts) and cameras instead of side mirrors (which are not legal in the US ).

Overall, the test says a lot about the Chinese automakers’ cost lead. As Western automakers struggle to increase electric vehicle production volumes and lower costs for consumers, Chinese companies are already succeeding, in part thanks to aggressive industrial policies that have pumped billions of dollars into manufacturing and electric vehicle supply chains. They are able to make vehicles that are inexpensive and feature-rich. For further proof, look no further than the BYD Seagull hatchback, priced around $10,000.

The comparison also highlights how different Chinese consumers are from American consumers and how Chinese dominance in all major auto markets is far from guaranteed.

Self-opening doors and refrigerated compartments are cool, but is that what Americans want? For Chinese automakers to gain a foothold in the U.S. market — as policymakers claim they will if given an opening — they will need to adapt their know-how to an entirely new type of customer. It’s easier said than done.

Contact the author: tim.levin@insideevs.com

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