This Question also includes Proton badged Geelys.

Recently I saw a trend where Malaysians starts buying China cars.

China cars in Malaysia formerly synonymous with poor build quality, copycat designs, shady dealerships, low resale value and lack of workshops that specialise on fixing China cars.

But times are now changing where Malaysians are buying China cars as an alternative to those Japanese, Koreans and Continental cars. New companies such as BYD launching their new EV cars here.

What do you think about this?

missing opportunity for proton. proton could have the forefront of ev car industry, which started earlier with japunise tech.

This post has been edited by kelvinfixx: May 1 2023, 11:00 AM

China-made cars will be gaining market share with better tech at lower prices. Same strategy as mobile phones eg Huawei, Honor, Xiaomi, Oppo, etc.
In the leisure drone market, DJI have practically killed the US competitor GoPro.

What China cannot replicate in terms of tech, they will use money to buy. Eg MG, Lotus, Volvo etc.

Geely with Proton and BYD with SDAC are the game changers

The perception (for non-EV) is still the same. Geely is the exception.

People buy Geely because it is cheaper thanks to Proton badge. Also got some support of aftersales with Proton dealership network.

China brand like GAC and Haval still not selling much. Chery keeps on teasing, but no actual launch yet.

I’d say it’s 50-50 between the two poll choices. Not all China brands have the same reputation.

In fact, even the local China analysts suggest that it’s a race to the bottom in China right now and many of the less successful makers will eventually be swallowed up by the bigger ones.

In the end, the dozens of Chinese automakers we read about today may just end up being consolidated into 2 or 3 makers in a few years time, and it’s these 2 or 3 brands (and their sub brands) that have best resources to set up successful network of dealerships, service centers and local OEM partnerships in Malaysia.

I test drive the ora good cat. Not a car I would say have matured.

The instrument cluster is gg can’t see in glare, the infotainment system is not built with driving in mind, n the internal centre console was feeling very plasticky n flexible, as if a rougher handling will just break the while middle console off. Opened the engine compartment n Omgosh, yellow marks everywhere, does not give me the confidence of a road worthy car.

Yes. Not all China car makers are equal.

They have 580+ including all the sub brands, many will be dissappear eventually.

Essentially in this world, no one can built a complex mechanical machine without German, US, Japanese technology. Not even the Japanese can stand alone.

Guess who monopolize the simple humble industrial adhesive, 3m and Loctite.

What most Chinese car maker lack of is not the technology, but they don't actually know how to make car itself.

The Korean used to struggle the same problem. The car was ahead of market in terms of spec, long stroke suspension is comfortable, but yet doesn't drive quite right. Until they setup R&D center at Nurburgring in 2011, hire all the German engineers and Albert Bierman from BMW M. And it reflects in their cars 2017 onwards. Drive totally different.

There is no short cut, accumulate road test time is the only way. Running daily at Nurburgring, 5000+ laps every year. Simulator laps is 10x more than physical road test. Some said Nurburgring yield equivalent of 15x distance vs normal public road test, that's why all major car makers do testing there.

Geely has a head start by owning Polestar, Lotus, and Proton. Polestar was the one race Volvo 850 and S60 in touring car race. After the Polestar brand become EV brand, the original racing team is now Cyan Racing that race Lynk & Co in TCR/WTCR. Geely put their Chinese engineers alongside to learn with the very best.

Proton has extensive experience in Rally, while Lotus no need to say already.

All these time accumulated is reflected on the cars offer. For us that love driving, it is a mountain must be overcome. Close all the badge, turn a few corners we know which car we can't accept. One can call us "minority" here, but it is majority of European population growing in that environment. That explains Hyundai/Kia/Genesis now selling well in Europe.

If the Chinese makers want to be truly international brands, sorry no short cut. They have to either take Geely route or the Hyundai route. The way most of the Chinese makers that act as car final assembler by buying off the shelves technology, they will never grow.

How long they can sell bigger screen, more ambient light colors, auto doors?

Driving position alone, how can a driver access all the interface without lean forward lifting the back from standard driving position? This is why we said the new comer don't yet have the depth, lack of sophistication. The 100+ years car makers are not just about technology.

At least now Ora use same font. Lol. When Haval first launched here, it is eyesore to see different fonts on different buttons. GWM although coming from traditional car maker backgrounds, they've been focus in low cost 3rd world market, they lack of experience in designing proper car.

Hire art designer alone don't overcome the gaps.

This post has been edited by constant_weight: May 1 2023, 04:25 PM

meanwhile.....in UK

https://www.motorfinanceonline.com/news/ove...their-next-car/

Over a quarter would consider a Chinese brand for their next car
Carwow cites competitive pricing and value for money as key motivators for consumers purchasing Chinese cars.

Ahead of Auto Shanghai, beginning on Tuesday 18 April, new research conducted by Carwow finds that more than a quarter (29%) of active car buyers would consider a Chinese brand for their next vehicle.

30% of drivers polled said they associate Chinese cars with value for money, while 19% believe Chinese cars have more competitive prices than other car brands, and one in 10 (10%) said they have ‘more and better’ technology.

However, reasons cited for not wanting to consider a Chinese car included concerns about ‘political matters’ (37%), ‘build quality’ (36%) and a ‘lack of familiarity with Chinese brands’ (28%).

When asked what would persuade them to consider a Chinese car, one in five (21%) of those polled said ‘more time’, indicating that drivers simply want to build up more familiarity with new entrants from China.

James Hind, co-founder and CEO of Carwow, said: “The fact that more than one in four drivers would now consider a Chinese car is a testament to how quickly we’re seeing perception shifting....

This post has been edited by EnergyAnalyst: May 2 2023, 01:26 AM

https://www.scmp.com/business/china-busines...-year-shipments

Chinese carmakers confident of overtaking Japan as world’s No. 1 exporter this year with shipments of 4.5 million units

While the China Passenger Car Association expects exports to hit 4 million units this year, some industry executives believe the figure could touch 4.5 million

Car exports from China reached 301,000 units in the first two months of this year, an increase of 30.1 per cent from a year earlier.

China is likely to overtake Japan as the world’s top car exporter this year, with industry executives predicting shipments of up to 4.5 million units, on the back of the growing manufacturing and technological heft of the nation’s electric-vehicle makers.

If the sales forecasts in foreign markets prove to be accurate, then China would probably surpass Japan to become the world’s top auto exporter. In 2022, Japan’s exports fell nearly 8 per cent year on year to 3.5 million units.

https://www.wapcar.my/news/making-the-same-...a-in-2024-67580

Welcome to the fiercely fought crowded B Segment Crossover market....New GAC GS3.


https://www.zigwheels.my/car-news/gac-teame...gs3-launch-soon

To be CKD'd by Tan Chong




This post has been edited by EnergyAnalyst: May 13 2023, 09:16 AM

While I totally agree with market share gains due to better tech and lower prices.

We must not forget it is the CHINESE Government New Energy policy and directive and the responding market sentiments and expectations that have raised the bar so high and Chinese car makers have no choice but to burn and rise and reinvent themselves.

My argument is simple :India also has one of the most populous and market potential and even have EVs launched manybetars back but when are their going to be exported?

And when I read the below:

https://www.thestar.com.my/business/busines...ehicles-by-2030

Tata needs so long to come out with luxury EVs? I can only say I am seriously worry for them.

This post has been edited by EnergyAnalyst: May 14 2023, 10:29 AM

https://www.wapcar.my/news/gacs-ev-only-mar...-momentum-67671

Another Chinese outselling Tesla.

GAC Aion

Tested haval h6 hev at usj 4s center in short time within nearby road and notice the suspension is on soft setup.

Overall this car really impress me a lot and the most tempting part will be the prices. Head from SA below crv. Let see by end of this year


https://youtu.be/04PQkkj3fHI

100km/h - 0 braking distance of Haval and Chery are worrying.
Over 40m is a red flag, 45m is worse than wet braking distance of many normal cars.
Even A, B segments with eco low rolling resistance tyre should be around 40m, not sure any non-optimal brake bias tuning issue here.

2021 Haval H6 - 43.59m (some more this is rather powerful with sub 8 seconds 0-100km/h)
2023 Chery Omoda 5 - 45.68m

For comparison, the mainstream is about 37m.

2020 BMW M340i - 37.56m

If you think M340i is unfair comparison, I throw in heavy 2 tonnes+ XC60 and Kia EV6.

2023 Volvo XC60 - 36.46m
2022 Kia EV6 - 35.98m

If you still think it is unfair those are premium cars. I throw in a humble A segment car - Kia Picanto.
Both Iriz, Persona are below 40m since 2021.
All these A, B segments also run eco low rolling resistance tyre from factory.

2019 Kia Picanto - 37.8m

Like Quazacolt always said, before active/passive safety, fancy L2, AEB, the first level defence is the mechanical of the car. Here the humble brake makes huge difference.

2021 Haval H6 - 43.59m


2023 Chery Omoda 5 - 45.68m


2020 BMW M340i - 37.56m


2023 Volvo XC60 - 36.46m


2022 Kia EV6 - 35.98m


2019 Kia Picanto - 37.8m


This post has been edited by constant_weight: Jun 3 2023, 07:09 PM

Meanwhile....


https://www.theautopian.com/china-once-auto...giant-headache/

https://www.ft.com/content/c387fa14-bf63-47...40-fd70171f7583

Chinese groups have put Japanese and international carmakers under pressure, says Makoto Uchida

Nissan’s chief executive has warned that the rapid pace of production of Chinese carmakers is piling pressure on international manufacturers as they struggle to compete for market share.

Makoto Uchida issued the warning as Japanese brands in particular lose consumers to highly competitive Chinese rivals.

He told the Financial Times’s Future of the Car summit on Wednesday that “agile” local carmakers in China, the world’s largest auto market, were pushing rivals to speed up production.

“We should not be just relaxed and sitting down. The lead time is very agile,” Uchida said, adding that Chinese manufacturers were showing “massive strength”.

The time it took Chinese manufacturers to bring a car to market was “much faster than we expected before”, he said. “We need to align.”

Chinese carmakers are making big inroads at home and overseas with competitively priced electric vehicles, leaving behind some international manufacturers.


Japanese brands, including the world’s biggest carmaker Toyota, are some of those suffering the most as a result.

Toyota said it would accelerate its electric vehicle line-up in China, after its 2022 sales in the country fell for the first time in a decade.

Nissan, which reports earnings for its full year on Thursday, had projected in February that sales of Chinese cars would fall 24 per cent volume-wise to just over 1mn in the 12 months to the end of March.

That would push Chinese sales by unit — previously its biggest market — below those in North America. The group has a passenger car joint venture in China with Dongfeng Motor.


“How we can make something for China in China . . . will be the key,” Uchida told the FT summit.

Chinese groups such as Nio and BYD are also looking to take on European brands on their home turf in another challenge for companies struggling to bring down the cost of production to make EVs accessible to consumers.

“The biggest danger is the Chinese coming in . . . because they are coming in with quite competitive prices and with very good vehicles,” Linda Jackson, the chief executive of Stellantis’s Peugeot brand, told the FT summit.

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/...-niall-ferguson

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/31/china-comes...r-exporter.html

China failed to replace Japan as the world’s largest exporter of cars in 2023, despite coming close to doing so, data released this month showed.

Japanese customs data showed the country exported 5.97 million vehicles last year, more than the 5.22 million vehicle exports that China customs data reported.


However, manufacturing association data from both countries showed that China did edge out Japan: 4.14 million passenger car exports versus 3.978 million in 2023, according to figures available online and accessed via Wind Information.

More than 70% of China’s car exports in 2023 were of gasoline-powered vehicles, according to the Ministry of Commerce, noting that new energy vehicle exports were growing rapidly.

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/...itchens-drones/


China EV makers woo buyers with in-car beds, kitchens, drones
Bloomberg
-
11 Mar 2024, 12:39 PM
Cutting-edge offerings from smaller players raise the risk of Western carmakers slipping further behind.



While traditional automakers’ focus is still on car drivability, Chinese firms have expanded into various lifestyle and leisure applications. (Polestones pic)
SHANGHAI: In China, electric vehicles with built-in fridges and even in-car karaoke systems are considered passé. Instead, carmakers are turning to increasingly novel add-ons from beds to cooktops to boost sluggish sales.

Top EV makers are facing a slowdown in demand at home as consumers curb spending, just as geopolitical tensions with major Western economies cloud the outlook for exports.

Meanwhile for smaller players, the ability to think creatively is core to their survival, with the cut-throat industry bracing for a likely wave of consolidation as China looks to rein in the excesses left behind by years of generous subsidies.

The high-tech offerings also highlight the risk for Western manufacturers should they fall even further behind in carving out market share in the world’s biggest auto market.

China-made vehicles are viewed by local customers as better suited to their extensive technology demands and preference for high levels of connectivity.

“While legacy automakers still only focus on the drivability of a car, Chinese companies are not satisfied with that,” Wang Binggang, an Xpeng Inc salesperson, said in a showroom in central Shanghai.

“We are extending the possibilities to all kinds of living and recreational scenarios, and that’s part of the reason why customers love e-cars these days.”

Here’s a look at some of the offbeat offerings now available in China:

Sleeping kits

Just one click on the in-car display in Xpeng’s G9, an SUV with a starting price at 263,900 yuan (US$36,700), and it turns into a bed that comfortably sleeps two people.

Drivers who install the so-called sleeping kit feature are able to make both front and back seats lay completely flat, then watch as a double-size air mattress unfolds and is automatically inflated.

The company is looking to muscle in on China’s increasingly popular camping culture, but the car may also prove a hit with desk jockeys enduring the country’s notoriously gruelling office hours and looking for a place to nap.

The feature was an unexpected saviour for some families during February’s Lunar New Year holiday. Long waits at charging stations, traffic jams that lasted for hours and snowstorms that left tens of thousands of drivers stranded across the country saw many in sudden need of a safe place to sleep.

In sync heartbeat

One of the most notable features of an electric vehicle is how much quieter, and smoother to accelerate, it is compared with a combustion-engine car. But the downside is that it can cause or worsen motion sickness. And the way an EV’s brakes work can also add to the feeling of imbalance for some drivers and passengers.

Hangzhou-based Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd says it has solved that problem in its Galaxy E8 electric sedan, which vibrates at 1.25 hertz — the same as a human heartbeat — when the car is driving on undulating terrain.

The car, which went on sale on Jan 5 and starts at US$24,450, also has a braking system that minimises the jerking sensation often noticed by people when they first start driving an EV.

Tailgate ready

Li Auto Inc’s L-Series has become one of the most popular SUV ranges in China, offering spacious interiors, extended-range capabilities and in-built massagers in its seats. While that’s seen sales boom, it’s also given rise to challengers looking to make their own mark among the country’s middle-class families.

That includes Rox Motor Tech, a startup established in 2021 by the founder of a robot vacuum maker, which is looking to win over lovers of the outdoors. Its first production model, the Polestones 01, includes a rear-mounted camping-style kitchen with an induction cooker and water dispenser.

It’s also got a sun canopy that attaches to the roof, which the carmaker says can be assembled, or taken down and stowed away, in minutes. The car costs US$48,700.

Drones

BYD Co, the world’s largest EV manufacturer, is looking to make its premium US$153,000 Yangwang U8 more enticing for tech fans.

Its partnership with Shenzhen-based drone giant DJI allows a small craft to launch from and land on a retractable case mounted to the roof and it can even fly back to dock once the car reaches its final destination.

Movements are controlled on the in-car display screen, and an in-built system can charge the drone’s three batteries and swap cells when the power runs down.

The drone is programmed to follow the car’s route and captures high-definition images. That allows drivers to obtain real-time aerial views of their surrounds, while they can also produce short videos on their in-car screen.

In-car gaming

In-car gaming is an increasingly widespread offering. Tesla Inc added video game platform Steam into its system in 2022, while Li Auto allows drivers and passengers to connect their Nintendo Co’s Switch to the car’s system.

BYD has taken it one step further. Its redesigned steering wheel can be detached, allowing drivers to use it in conjunction with the car’s pedals to play video games on the in-car display.

While the technology has proved popular, it’s also given rise to concerns that it’s distracting and could cause crashes. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last year closed a probe into Tesla’s in-vehicle game-play functionality after the automaker disabled the “Passenger Play” feature.

Chinese EV makers have implemented restrictions, including only allowing games to be played when a car is stationary with the engine off.

What’s next?

The best, or quirkiest, are yet to come.

Geely and its EV brand Zeekr applied for a patent for a vehicle-mounted fishing system that includes a line and hook. Location sensors on the car will give the driver information on the depth and flow rate of nearby bodies of water, as well as historical data to help determine the best fishing spot.

A device will enable long-distance and more precise casting and, when a fish bites, the vehicle will reel it in.

Meanwhile, SAIC Corp’s IM Motors has filed an intellectual property application for an in-car plant-care system, which will collect rain from the roof and water generated by the vehicle’s cooling system. Software will recognise different plant varieties and calculate the best timing and volume of water to sustain them.

The ambitions signal automakers’ emphasis on innovation will continue even in the face of an uncertain consumer demand outlook.

Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram

“In the EV era, China is attempting to redefine premium,” said Bill Russo, founder and chief executive officer of Shanghai-based advisory firm Automobility. “They may come up with some real off-the-wall ideas, but that’s what experimentation is all about.”

https://www.businessinsider.com/china-xiaom...20selling%20EVs.

Apple spent 10 years trying to launch a car. China's Xiaomi just did it in 3.


Last month, Apple called it quits on its electric-vehicle dream. This month, one of the iPhone maker's biggest rivals in China is showing it how it's done.

The Beijing-based smartphone maker Xiaomi is set to do what Apple could not after it announced plans to start selling its first line of EVs, the Speed Ultra 7 — known as the SU7 — on March 28 in nearly 30 cities across China.

thru proton rebadged from geely a kick start for malaysian begin to trust china cars , as we can see lots of x50 x70 even x90 on the road nowdays

Back then everyone was like "ewww...made in China".
Now everyone is glorifying "made in China" products.
Progress.

Will they start to put ads in their HU like how they did with their phone?

If you go back far enough, we used to say.. "ewww.. Japan goods".

They deserved the praise because they are the most sincere as Bobby Ang said it.


Agree with how he described Honda, it was brief but a nail in the coffin nonetheless

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/opinion/36261...entley-combined

And the sincere words from Mike Rutherford,
Chief columnist of Auto express UK

Mike was one of the founding fathers of Auto Express in 1988. He's been motoring editor on four tabloid newspapers - London Evening News, The Sun, News of the World & Daily Mirror. He was also a weekly columnist on the Daily Telegraph, The Independent and The Sunday Times.

Oh yes. Now China is the new Japan in Asia.

Basically it's priced lower than the rest and offer more or equivalent features.
...
..
.
Just like how we now got used to China phones.

"You have to learn. You have to unlearn and you have to do it quickly," he said. "Because you've been doing something for 100 years, doesn't mean you should keep doing it. It's no longer appropriate."

Marin Gjaja, chief operating officer for Ford's EV unit


https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/22/byd-seagull...ns-on-edge.html

EV maybe.

ICE car better not, unless it is Proton.

https://www.wapcar.my/news/the-brand-that-s...v-segment-78412

I hope it can challenge BYD in some way meaningful

https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2024/0...volution/126480



Aside from BYD, Who are the other players?

There are a staggering 129 EV brands in China, but just 20 have managed to achieve a domestic market share of one percent or more, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The data showed BYD at almost 33 percent, with Tesla in second place with more than eight percent.

In third place with 5.8 percent of the market is Wuling, which makes China’s best-selling EV to date — a tiny two-door car named Hongguang Mini.

The rest of the pack includes Volvo Cars-parent Geely and electric SUV maker Li Auto, as well as the relatively newer XPeng and NIO.

And the offerings for Chinese customers are just as varied — from buses and entry-level and mid-range city cars to luxury sedans and roadsters.

China’s tech giants also want a slice of the multi-billion-dollar EV pie.

Huawei, under heavy US sanctions over alleged links to Chinese security agencies, has in recent years developed EVs with production partners, with heavy use of its technology.

Search giant Baidu is also working on an EV project, with a focus on autonomous driving.

And Xiaomi, the world’s third-biggest smartphone maker, entered the fray on Thursday.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/...st-asia-4234326

with the fast tech offered by China brand cars, it is a blessing in disguise for consumers here. I remember back in 2012-14 circa back then, most cars were already with GDI configuration to get better FC and good emission. But the Japanese brand especially their Project leader always blaming our "low" quality petrol as reason they wont give GDI engine, which is apparently due to cheapskate practice. Other brand back then like Hyundai i40 (i40 can do with GDI here without any issue back in 2014. VW engine as well, so it turn out Japanese brand with cheapskates are one who delaying the GDI engine to our market.

With China car, we are getting GDI engine, DCT gb to the masses at affordable prices. See Chery Tiggo 8 2.0T engine which give similar as Merz C300 in term of Hp and Torque at that price, its good for the consumer. This not including the EV car which more tech upgrading per year in term of battery tech. Compared to Japanese, it stuck with junk, not reliable CVT gb again and again.

Summary, Japanese brands are cheapskate at least to our region. No wonder their sales number are affected by China car abroad.

This post has been edited by ayamxxx: Apr 2 2024, 10:21 PM

Funny you should said that

https://www.ft.com/content/4f1a2188-ced0-40...8d-5148209a5f5e

Li Yunfei, general manager of branding and public relations at BYD, said in a recent social media post that the company was starting “a grand showdown with gas cars”. “Buying a gasoline-powered car at the moment is like buying a pager when mobile phones are available,” he said

Japanese loves nostalgia


https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/201911...out-its-economy

Don't call them cheap, for they are cherished.

Maybe for the CBU unit. But if it for SEA market, standby cut cost practice especially the thing we dont see (sound insulation materials) hence we getting poor NVH for local made Japanese car. Try drive Japanese CBU model, its day and night different.

If petrol price is at RM2.05/L its takes longer to ROI here (consumer will make calculation if it wonder to jump EV) , wait if the petrol hitting rm4/L like Thai, masses will jump to EV more & asap.

This post has been edited by ayamxxx: Apr 3 2024, 08:52 AM

tides have turned, war price is good for end users

No need to hit RM4, hit RM3 already jumped over. A 2 figures fill up full tanks will becomes 3 figures.

Works a bit like electricity price, I was just at TNB yesterday and a staff has shown me a big jump in solar PV applications from house owners

And that happens just because a 2 sen rebate abolishment for those who pays above RM230 per month.

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/...s-not-affected/

15% of users affected already can has such effect, what will happen when if fuel subsidy is removed for just T20 ?

https://www.nippon.com/en/news/kd1145999130002670535/
Yet it is Tesla sales dip and Chinese EV sales dip that get all the media headlines, is this media bias?

for non EV cars , x50 by proton the only one i like most

Let's see if Chery will do another disappearing act

chery omoda 5 seems nice , seen few times on the road

my current network of business friends who are in the T20 category at least have 1 BYD or Cherry EV at home.

Then here is hoping some M40 will get to buy BYD Dolphin, MG4, MG ZS if they can afford them

according to my dealer ... mg4 selling like hot cake... 3-5 units every day... lol...

those whot still question China-made product quality and competitiveness = really Bodo.

Why?


they Assume 1.4B Chinese consumer willing to pay for rubbish on daily basis.
Almost 200% sure, they never travel to china b4.


Chinese buyer not stupid, they wont pay for lapsap product.

and in China, their competition level is currently world toughest.
even Elon Musk agreed that.

So, they really manage to raise alot Highly competitive Company.

those EV mostly for city driving , others might be for long distance & city driving

https://cnevpost.com/2024/04/12/china-relea...including-cars/

China releases action plan to encourage trade-in of consumer goods including cars

China aims to double the amount of scrapped cars recycled by 2027 compared to 2023.

Read it all up for things to come, because so far what happened in China, doesn't just stay in China,

E.g. EV Price wars

https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/707981



EP Manufacturing inks deal with China's BAIC for vehicle assembly in Malaysia

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/...ijing-car-show/

..Top (Chinese) EV bosses point to the intense competition in the Chinese market as one of the reasons why it is so innovative compared to foreign firms — even if it means that company profits might suffer as companies rush to offer the best products at the lowest prices.

“The price war is certainly a reality for all participants in the competition to face,” Nio’s Li told AFP.

“It will, of course, reduce each company’s sales and there will be some impact on profitability,” he admitted.

“On the other hand, this is a normal phenomenon of market competition.”

XPeng’s Gu said the new Xiaomi EV is likely the last major brand to enter the market for the foreseeable future.

And he admitted that when the price war stabilises, it will be “brutal”.

“Chinese players become productive, competitive and in some ways technologically more innovative because of the competition,” he said.

“That’s how you grow.”

https://www.wapcar.my/news/flash-in-a-pan-o...east-asia-79036

Who and where they are

CN cars copied or stole a lot from conti cars. As a result, it also inherits many of the problems and weird features.

I won't touch CN cars with a 10-foot pole personally unless there are at least 5 parts suppliers and 10 workshops in KV alone.

For now, I prefer Kia (plenty of parts from wholesalers or junkyards and super cheap basic cars) or Peugeot (cheapest conti around with plenty of parts from wholesalers or junkyards plus a helpful owner's group)

I recently found a graveyard full of Kia and Peugeot cars in Port Klang. Local councils or workshops mostly scrap all—plenty of good parts up for sale.

Seriously Peugeot?

I have owned a Peugeot and a Hyundai before , the former gives more electronic issues and some mechanical ones while the latter a lot more mechanical related issues. Both parts cost a bomb compare to local and Japanese which I have also owned . Their CKD or SKD operations have so far flatlined.

There are reasons why the French and Korean remain cold door car until these days.

If you ask me will I buy back Peugeot or Hyundai? I will consider EV but not ICE or hybrid, I don't trust their ICE engine and their related drivetrain performance and efficiency based on my experience.

As for the Chinese, I will in fact take the risk over these 2, despite they are not even more unfamiliar to most of us.

The simple reason being they are mainly pushing out EV (they are simpler machines) and have extensive stocks of the final cars and batteries and other parts. Chinese are selling cheap (price wars) and offer Best Bang for Your Buck.

And they are damn serious about South Carolina last Asian


https://www.wapcar.my/news/flash-in-a-pan-o...east-asia-79036

But if you are not EV ready and want to stick with ICE, I would recommend Japanese over French and Korean any given time because you are just better supported for in terms of parts and service

Buying second hand or used cars only have advantage: cheap

Other than that, unless you buy and pay full in cash, otherwise your financing comes with much higher rates, repair bill is imminent, how abundant and trustworthy are these French and Korean parts? How efficient they are since they have aged? etc.etc.

There is also a reason Stellantis put forth Leapmotor of China as their affordable EVs.

The French simply can't make EV here at affordable cost as Asia is not where they have cost advantage

https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2024/04...uto-show/131232

Lessons learnt @Beijing Auto Show as reported by Malay.mail

Budget EV challenge done in NZ. Will be interesting to see something similar done here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26Zoywqh5TI

This post has been edited by lowpro: Apr 29 2024, 08:51 AM