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The Mondial de l’Auto 2024<\/strong><\/b> surprised visitors with a host of new products, and the increased presence of nine Chinese brands<\/strong><\/b> is designed to \u201chighlight their technological advances and determination to develop\u201d, as Xinhua, the official press agency of the People’s Republic of China, puts it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Alongside BYD, Tesla’s omnipotent electric rival, and Hongqi<\/strong><\/b>, the doyenne of Chinese automakers (1958), which has become the benchmark for the regime’s top dignitaries, there were less media-friendly but equally dynamic brands such as Forthing (Dongfeng), Maxus (SAIC), GAC, Skyworth, Xpeng, Leapmotor (incorporated into Stellantis) and Aito.<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The latter, launched by cell phone manufacturer Huawei and partner of Seres<\/strong><\/b> ( already present in Europe)<\/strong><\/b>, is preparing its arrival on the Old Continent in 2025. This is subject to acceptance of its numerous technological options, some of which have not yet been approved by European authorities.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This Chinese stranglehold is all the stronger given that the Japanese brands Toyota, Nissan and Suzuki, Korea’s Hyundai and a number of European brands (including Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and DS) are missing<\/strong><\/b> from the Salon line-up.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n To counter what appears to be unfair competition, the EU has decided to carry out its threat to surcharge Chinese imports of electric vehicles.<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n From Thursday October 31, Chinese battery-powered vehicles will be subject to a surcharge of up to +35%, in addition to the 10% customs duty.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Its gigantic, full-length stand featured an XXL screen, whose speakers played a single, particularly catchy electro track. Aito<\/strong><\/b>, hitherto an unknown quantity in France and Europe, stood opposite Hongqi, the esteemed state carmaker cherished by Communist Party leaders.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Installed in the America Hall of the Motor Show, Aito is, contrary to its name, not a Japanese manufacturer, but a Chinese one<\/strong><\/b>. Its acronym carries the promise of artificial intelligence – \u201cAdding Intelligence To Automobile\u201d<\/em>. And it’s about to arrive in Europe<\/strong><\/b>. The result of a partnership between Huawei and the Chinese manufacturer Seres<\/strong><\/b> (already established on European soil), Aito was founded in 2021. Since then, between February 2022 and July 2024, it has delivered 400,000 vehicles to its local market<\/strong><\/b>. This brand seems destined to eclipse Seres.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n At the Mondial, Aito presented the M5<\/strong><\/b>, marketed in 2022 and a close relative of the Seres SF5<\/strong><\/b>, as well as the M7 and M9<\/strong><\/b> which were launched in 2022 and 2023 respectively. These models were presented under the names Aito 5, Aito 7 and Aito 9 at the Show.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For its part, Hongqi<\/strong><\/b>, literally \u201cRed Flag\u201d in Mandarin, well known in the Middle Kingdom and now in India, presented an ultra-luxury vision of the Made in China automobile<\/strong><\/b>. The manufacturer, whose designer once worked for Rolls Royce<\/strong><\/b>, presented the Guoya<\/strong><\/b>. An opulent executive sedan, similar to a limousine, judging by its 5-meter wingspan.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \t\tNew automotive primer<\/h2>\n
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