The electric cars you’ve never heard of
20/1/2025
Translation: Katherine Martin
Support: Martin Jungfer
China’s roads are teeming with cars with catchy names like Zeeker, Li Car and Nio. If you’ve never heard of these brands, it’s time to get familiar. You’ll soon be seeing some of them on our roads.
Our trip to China didn’t just involve visiting a bunch of factories and conducting negotiations. We also spent hours sitting in cars, being chauffeured through unfamiliar cities home to millions of inhabitants.
Most of these electric-powered cars were completely new to me – and had more than just a whiff of luxury. Kitted out with massage seats, massive screens and the sort of legroom you’d get in business class, it was a comfortable way to travel around the country. If it wasn’t already obvious to me before our trip to the People’s Republic, I now know why the European car industry’s in crisis. I also know why it’ll probably have to brace itself for another few tough years.
After using my phone to take a few snaps of the cars, I began looking into the companies behind them. Although I still tend to get from A to B by bike or fuel-powered car, I have to say these Chinese brands make my tech-savvy heart beat a little faster. Will I follow in the footsteps of my colleague Martin and switch to an electric car sometime soon? Who knows?
Zeekr: electric cars for design lovers
Source: Manuel Wenk
Zeekr says it’s all about stylish design and cutting-edge technology. The brand’s also hoping to win a few brownie points in Europe with its flagship, the Zeekr 001. Ever heard of a coupé that can do zero to 100 in under four seconds? Well, Zeekr’s made it a reality. And the car looks good to boot.
Company: Zeekr is a premium electric car brand belonging to Chinese corporation Geely, which also owns Volvo, Lotus and Polestar.
Revenue: 7.2 billion US dollars (2023), with losses in Q3 of 2024 coming in at around 157 million US dollars.
Plans for Europe: Zeekr has announced plans to expand into the European market. Models such as the Zeekr 001 will soon be available in countries such as Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands. Originally announced with a range of 1,000 kilometres, it’s now advertised on the website at a slightly more modest 620 kilometres. Prices for Germany start at just under 45,000 euros.
Leapmotor: e-cars for everyone
Source: Manuel Wenk
Leapmotor builds inexpensive electric cars. Starting at around CHF 17,000, the compact T03 aims to be the perfect companion for the city. It’s manoeuvrable, stylish and packed with technology. The C10 is an SUV with a price tag of around 35,000 francs. Aimed at young, price-conscious drivers, the Leapmotor brand could potentially strike a chord with customers in this country. Although European car manufacturers are producing more affordable models now too, they missed the boat on cracking this market segment a long time ago.
Company: Leapmotor is an emerging Chinese manufacturer that produces affordable electric vehicles. Founded by Zhu Jiangming in 2015, the company puts a great deal of time and money into developing its own components. Leapmotor says 60 per cent of its cars are developed in-house. Stellantis invested in Leapmotor in 2023, acquiring 20 per cent of its shares for 1.5 billion euros in the process. The corporation also owns brands such as Fiat, Citroën, Jeep, Maserati, Opel and Peugeot.
Turnover: 1.8 billion US dollars (2022). Leapmotor operates at a loss.
Plans for Europe: Leapmotor’s planning to expand into the European market within the next few months. As part of these plans, 500 sales outlets are to be set up in nine European countries by 2026. In Switzerland, Emil Frey AG will take on importing and selling the cars (linked page in German). The T03 and C10 models are already available to order. Leapmotor says they’ll be delivered in the near future.
Nio: ditching long charging times for a replaceable battery solution
Source: Manuel Wenk
Don’t have time to charge your car? Nio has the solution. With one of its models, you can change the battery in just five minutes at a battery swap station. The brand also boasts luxury models such as the ET7 or ET5. These don’t just look futuristic – they actually are high-tech.
Company: Described as a manufacturer of premium electric vehicles, Nio also aims to make battery swap stations established. Founded in Shanghai in 2014, the brand claims to offer «great service, passionate design and advanced technology». The problem with a battery swap solution? Building and maintaining a swap station costs a lot more than a charging station. Other manufacturers would have to get on board in order to make the concept a reality and reduce costs. Technical standards would need to be created and liability issues sorted out. Whether Nio has the time for that is debatable. The company’s been making losses for years, falling into the red to an equivalent of 2.8 billion US dollars in 2023.
Revenue: 7.8 billion US dollars in 2023, with losses coming in at around 2.8 billion US dollars. Figures for 2024 aren’t yet available.
Plans for Europe: Nio’s already operating in Germany, offering models such as the ET7 and EL7. The company’s planning to expand its European presence. In addition to Nio’s sales outlets in Germany and elsewhere in Europe, it already has 40 battery swap stations in the EU. In Germany, there were 14 stations at last count, with more under construction (linked page in German). The cars are set to go on sale in Switzerland in 2025 (article in German), with battery swap stations due to be constructed then too. There currently aren’t any stations in the country.
Xpeng: the Tesla hunter
Source: Manuel Wenk
XPeng sets a high bar. Its long-range models, such as the G9, are fitted with advanced driver assistance systems. With specs including a 570-kilometre range and 800-volt fast charging, the tech in these vehicles is top-of-the-line. The company’s even launched a flying car (page in German), with the first end customers set to receive their orders at the end of this year. XPeng also has financial woes, but these have diminished in recent times. The company has managed to reduce its losses, moving closer to breakeven. Its share prices also received a boost when the new Mona M03 came out. The car costs only half as much as the Tesla 3, and is supposedly even better.
Company: XPeng was founded in 2014 by Xiaopeng He. The company employs almost 16,000 people, and operates more than 600 sales outlets in China. XPeng’s working with Nio and Li Auto on charging stations, with Huawei also part of the network.
Revenue: 4.3 billion US dollars (2023), with losses in Q3 of 2024 coming in at around 250 million US dollars.
Plans for Europe: XPeng models such as the P7, G9 and G6 have been available in Germany since mid-2024 (website in German). For that, the brand relies on a traditional distribution system with German dealers. Its cars are set to be available for purchase at 80 locations by the end of 2025. It’s still unclear when they’ll be available in Switzerland, if ever.
Buick: a traditional brand with a modern twist
Source: Manuel Wenk
Buick’s one of the oldest automobile brands in the world, mostly making a name for itself in North America and China. While in the USA the brand’s synonymous with elegant saloons and SUVs, its success in China has come from selling high-quality electric and hybrid vehicles. This is where tradition meets modern technology. It also showcases the fact that emotions and trust play an important role in the decision to buy a car.
Company: Buick is owned by General Motors (GM), one of the world’s largest car manufacturers. It sells over a million vehicles every year, most of which are purchased in North America and China. The brand was founded in 1903 by Scottish-American engineer David Dunbar Buick. Its major successes in China are part of the reason the brand’s still around today.
Revenue: 172 billion US dollars (General Motors, 2023). The corporation doesn’t disclose sales figures for individual brands. However, Buick’s sales are likely to be somewhere around the nine billion dollar mark.
Plans for Europe: As of yet, Buick doesn’t have any immediate plans to enter the European market (website in German). The company’s focusing on the markets where it’s already strongly established, i.e. the USA and China.
GWM: a Chinese giant with global ambitions
Source: Manuel Wenk
Great Wall Motors (GWM) is one of China’s largest car manufacturers and is known worldwide for its SUVs and pick-ups. With models such as the Ora, Tank and Haval, GWM serves a broad spectrum. This ranges from small electric cars for city use to massive off-road vehicles such as the Tank 700, a luxury SUV reminiscent of the Mercedes G-Class.
Company: GWM sold over a million vehicles in 2023, primarily in its home market of China. In recent times, the company’s expansion seems to have come to a standstill. In the autumn of 2024, GMW closed its European headquarters in Munich, making 100 employees redundant. The company announced it was reorganising its distribution system (page in German).
Revenue: 19 billion US dollars (2022). In the first half of 2024, GWM made a profit of around 800 million US dollars.
Plans for Europe: GWM’s already taken its Ora model to Europe. Nevertheless, the company’s partially withdrawn from the continent, and is now working directly from China. GWM reportedly sold just 1,500 e-cars in Europe in the first quarter of 2024 (website in German). Too few for the company to be in the black. There are currently no plans for GMV to expand into Switzerland.
Denza: luxury from two different worlds
Source: Manuel Wenk
Denza’s the outcome of an original partnership between BYD and Mercedes-Benz – and it shows. The vehicles combine German design and engineering with a Chinese passion for technology. The result? Electric vehicles like the D9 – a hefty van that’ll put Western manufacturers on their toes.
Company: Denza was born of a joint venture between BYD and Mercedes-Benz to produce high-end electric vehicles. Mercedes pulled out (website in German) of the partnership a few years back, selling the last of its shares to BYD in autumn 2024. In other words, right around the time sales figures shot up following a long period of stagnation.
Revenue: Denza belongs to the BYD Group, which generated 85 billion US dollars in revenue in 2023. In mid-2024, the company’s quarterly sales and revenue exceeded Tesla’s for the first time (website in German).
Plans for Europe: Although Denza exhibited the D9 at the IAA in Munich (website in German), it doesn’t have any concrete plans to enter the European market yet.
Xiaomi SU7: the smartphone giant’s car
Source: Manuel Wenk
Xiaomi’s famous for its budget-friendly, high-tech gadgets. However, it’s also built a car – and broken records in the process. The SU7 didn’t just impress on the Nürburgring (website in German) – it also demonstrated that Xiaomi could cause as much of a stir in the automotive industry as it has in the smartphone sector. In December 2024, Xiaomi showcased the YU7, an SUV coupé reminiscent of a Ferrari Purosangue.
Company: Xiaomi is one of the world’s largest smartphone manufacturers. Its first electric vehicle, the SU7, was a resounding success, with Xiaomi achieving its annual goal to sell 100,000 cars in its home market by November 2024. After that, the company casually raised the target to 130,000 vehicles.
Revenue: Company revenue stood at 38 billion US dollars in 2023. It recorded a loss of around 204 million US dollars in its automotive division in the third quarter of 2024.
Plans for Europe: Xiaomi’s planning to launch the SU7 in Europe. However, it might take a while for the company to break into the market.
Li Auto: a new spin on the hybrid
Source: Manuel Wenk
Li Auto’s vehicles combine electric motors with combustion engines – a mix that could get European customers suffering from «chronic range anxiety» on board. With its spacious SUVs, the brand appeals to families who value comfort and technology.
Company: Li Auto is a Chinese manufacturer specialising in plug-in hybrid vehicles. Experts consider hybrid cars to be, at best, a transitional solution on the way to going fully electric (website in German).
Revenue: In the third quarter of 2024, Li Auto made the equivalent of three billion US dollars in profit, with a revenue of over 40 billion.
Plans for Europe: The company currently has no concrete plans for European expansion. Instead, it wants to focus its efforts on the domestic market in China and gain market share from Western luxury brands there.
HiPhi Z: the spaceship on wheels
Source: Manuel Wenk
The HiPhi Z doesn’t just have an unusual name. With their wing-like doors, space shuttle-style cockpits and initially confusing technology, the company’s cars look as if they’ve been imported from the future. However, it looks as if this futuristic car’s already history; production was discontinued at the beginning of 2024 (website in German).
Company: HiPh was a Human Horizons brand specialising in luxury electric vehicles. The company also had plans to expand into Europe. Still, HiPh doesn’t seem to have completely given up. In fact, the company website’s still accessible.
This is by no means an exhaustive list. I haven’t even mentioned Aion, market leader BYD or tech group Huawei. So, there’s definitely interesting stuff coming our way. Especially since Chinese car manufacturers are struggling with massive overcapacity. To put it another way, they’re building too many cars and selling too few in their home market. As a result, they’re pushing their way into Africa, the Middle East, America and Europe, where they’re facing off with established car manufacturers. Threats of high punitive tariffs, some of which are already in force, illustrate how hard the battle for customers is being waged.
As for Galaxus, we sell about 1,500 electric cars of Chinese origin. Mind you, you’ll only be able to get them in scales ranging from 1:6 to 1:76. When it comes to full-size cars, the selection’s far narrower. You can get a small JAC e-JS1 for around 17,500 Swiss francs. If you like European electric cars, our range also includes the Fiat 500 electric and the Microlino.
Manuel Wenk
Communications Manager
Manuel.Wenk@digitecgalaxus.chAs a Multimedia Producer, preparing multimedia content and knowing about cutting-edge technology is my business. My main focus at digitec is producing videos. I can’t wait to try out new products such as cameras, drones or smartphones as soon as they’re launched. This is where being at the source comes in rather handy. When I’m not working, I’m probably skiing, biking or hiking – the mountains are my place to be.
