Tag Archives: Germany

EV

XPeng G9 and P7 now available in Germany

Another Chinese car manufacturer, XPeng, has arrived on the European market with its two new electric models, the XPeng G9 SUV and the XPeng P7 sedan. This company was founded in 2014, and after Scandinavia and Germany, it plans to conquer other EU markets as well as Great Britain.

XPeng P7 will be offered in three versions: Long Range, Performance and Wing Edition. The standard version (Long Range) will be powered by an electric motor with 276 hp (), while the other two versions will be powered by two electric motors with a total power of 473 hp (). The Long Range version will be equipped with an 82.7 kWh battery that provides a range of 576 kilometers. The battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in 29 minutes. The Performance and Wing Edition versions will have a slightly shorter range (505 km), and when it comes to the price of the Long Range version, it will start at 49,600 euros.

XPeng G9 SUV will be offered in three versions: Standard Range, Long Range and Performance. The Standard Range version is powered by a single electric motor with 313 hp (). It is equipped with a 75.8 kWh battery that enables a range of 460 kilometers. The Long Range version has a larger 93.1 kWh battery and a range of 570 km. The most powerful version, Performance, is equipped with two electric motors with a total power of 551 hp () and a range of 520 km. The 75.8 kWh battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in 20 minutes. The price of this model starts at 57,600 euros.

Source: XPeng

News

Demand for EVs in Germany dropped by 54.9 percent

At the end of last year, the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) predicted that the demand for EVs in Germany will fall in 2024, despite constant growth in the world market. This already happened in January, when demand dropped by 54.9 percent compared to the same period in 2023. One of the reasons is the abolition of the subsidy.

The German government’s sudden decision to temporarily suspend subsidies for the purchase of new EVs has forced manufacturers to reduce vehicle prices in order to remain competitive with other manufacturers. As a reminder, BYD lowered prices by 15 percent, while Dacia reduced the price of the Spring model by 10,000 euros.

Buyers turned to proven options, gasoline and diesel cars, which had a decline in sales last year. However, the current situation with EVs has resulted in demand for cars with internal combustion engines. In January, 9.1 percent more gasoline cars were sold compared to the same period in 2023, while demand for diesels increased by 9.5 percent.

Another major reason for the decline in demand for EVs is the current state of the German economy, which has recently been in crisis, as well as geopolitical tensions in the region. Inflation, high prices and poor infrastructure of charging stations also affect demand. Even the leading car rental companies are looking for alternatives for their fleets due to the high cost of maintaining electric vehicles.

The VDA expects the German car market to drop by 1 percent to 2.82 million in 2024. At the same time, the global market is forecast to grow by 2 percent to 77.4 million cars. “Problems in the supply chain have largely been resolved, but the business environment for German carmakers remains challenging,” said VDA chief economist Manuel Kallweit.

Source: Reuters

News

Ford cuts 3,500 jobs in Germany

In mid-2022, Ford hinted that it would stop producing its popular compact Focus next year, and now it’s official. This decision will cause the loss of 3,500 jobs in Germany.

The factory in Saarlouis was opened in 1970, and after 55 years it could be completely closed. Ford had talks with Chinese brands BYD and Chery about taking over the factory, but also with a German manufacturer of solar panels. However, the latest information suggests that the deal has not been made.

Although Ford intended to assemble its new electric models in this factory, it will not happen. Plans have changed and the new electric Ford models will be assembled at a factory in Valencia, Spain. Some information says that Ford made an agreement with the union IG Metall to lay off workers. Union representatives said that after 2025, around 1,000 workers will remain at the Saarlouis factory, who will be offered retraining, and that there will be no forced redundancies until 2032. Also, employees will be able to leave early with severance pay.

Source: Reuters