Lhe trends in the new passenger vehicle market in Europe are clear. Driven by legislation and regulations, diesel is in free fall, hybridization continues to develop, while by 2035 electric models will become predominant, thanks to technical advances which will increase the autonomy and reduce the size of the batteries.
Until then, hydrogen will provide support to form a mix which will vary depending on uses and infrastructure. From this perspective, the heat engine has probably not yet said its last word. In this area, technically, manufacturers of European origin do not appear to be at a disadvantage compared to international competition. On the contrary, if we put Japan aside, in terms of known concepts and projects, Europe would seem ahead.
At the global level, apart from the Tesla exception in the United States, China has a bright future ahead of it. Driven by the explosion in demand for electric vehicles, supply is still growing. In October 2023, according to the China Federation of Personal Car Manufacturers, electric cars accounted for more than half of sales, reaching almost one million units.
For Europe, making up for lost time in battery production
Chinese manufacturers, who offer accomplished products in terms of autonomy, style and quality, were until now more particularly competitive in the segment of compact and high-end models, to the point that German manufacturers, formerly well established in China, saw their positions undermined. They are also in the process of developing a range of more accessible models.
The Nio brand, for example, announced, in December 2023, its desire to launch two new brands for this purpose, while the world number one in electrics, BYD, announced the establishment of a factory in Hungary in order to circumvent European restrictions and undoubtedly produce entry-level and mid-range models there.
The Europeans, first and foremost the French, are setting up a range of small electric models (new Renault 5, Citroën ë-C3) corresponding to the historical expectations of the market and access to which will be facilitated, in France, by the introduction of social leasing. But Europe still has to catch up in battery production. This important weakness aside, the Europeans have arguments to put forward. Firstly in terms of handling, in the development of which they have enviable know-how.
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