In China, they call it “seagull”, and has the appropriate appearance. They are elegant and angular, with bright, inclined headlights reminiscent of gate eyes.
It is, of course, a car. A very small, cheap city car – but it could be of great importance reported by the BBC. Available in China since 2023, where it has proven extremely popular, it has just been released in Europe under the most conventional name Dolphin Surf (because Europeans obviously do not care about seagulls as the Chinese).
When released in the United Kingdom this week, it is expected to be a price of about £ 18,000 (21,000 euros). This will do this for an electric car aimed at western markets, indeed cheap.
It will not be the cheapest model offered, however: Dacia Spring, manufactured in Wahan by Renault and Dongfeng, and Leapmotor T03, which is produced by a consortium of the Chinese newly established Leapmotor company with Stellantis, cost both less.
But Dolphin Surf is the ‘Spatial species’ that is most concerned about established brands. This is because the company behind it has already caused more noise in international markets.
Byd is already the biggest player in China. It surpassed Tesla in 2024 and became the manufacturer of electric vehicles (EV) with the best sales in the world, and since it entered European markets two years ago, it has expanded aggressively.
Byd is part of a broader expansion of Chinese companies and trademarks that some believe could change the face of the world automaker – and which has already triggered the US and EU government’s reaction.
This means that once unknown brands such as Nio, Xpeng, Zeekr or Omoda could become equally known as Ford or Volkswagen. These and classic brands such as MG, Volvo and Lotus, which have been under Chinese ownership for years.
The products offered are already covering a huge range of cars such as the tiny Dolphin Surf to exotic supercars, such as Yangwang’s U9, AD’s Luxury Affairs company.
“It is huge to penetrate Chinese companies into the European market”, David Bailey, a professor of business and finance at Birmingham Business School, told the BBC.
In 2024, 17 million battery cars and plug-in hybrid cars were sold worldwide, of which 11 million in China. Meanwhile, Chinese brands had 10% of global electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles outside their country of origin, according to Consulting Company Rho Motion. This percentage is expected to increase legally.
For consumers, these should be good news – leading to more high quality and affordable electric cars. However, as the rivalry between Beijing and Western forces shows no signs of retreat, some experts are concerned that Chinese vehicles could be a risk to hacker safety and third parties. And for established players in Europe, this is a terrible challenge for their historical domination.
“[Η Κίνα Îχει] A huge cost advantage through economies of scale and battery technology. European manufacturers are far behind ‘, Mr Bailey warns.
‘Unless they wake up very quickly and cover the difference, they could to be eliminated. “
Relentless competition in China
China’s car industry has been growing rapidly since the country joined the World Trade Organization in 2001. But this process accelerated rapidly in 2015, when the Communist Party introduced the “Made in China 2025” initiative. The 10 -year plan to make the country leader in several high -tech industries, including electric vehicles, has caused strong criticism from abroad, and especially from the US, in the midst of claims for forced technological information and copyright – all that the Chinese government refuses.
Powerful from plenty of state funding, the plan helped to lay the foundations for dizzying companies such as BYD – initially battery battery manufacturer – and allowed Chinese motherboards of MG and Volvo, Saic and Gely, to make important players in the market.
‘The general level of Chinese cars is really very, very high’, says Dan Sizar, Managing Director of Electric Vehicles UK.
“China has learned extremely quickly how to make cars.”
However, competition in China has become increasingly relentless, with brands struggling for a space in an ever -saturated market. This has led them to look for sales elsewhere.
While Chinese companies have expanded to East Asia and South America for years, the European market has proven to be a “hard nut” – this until European governments have decided to gradually remove the sale of new gasoline and diesel models.
The transition to electric cars opened the door to new players.
The low labor costs in China, coupled with state subsidies and a very well -established supply chain, have given Chinese companies, their opponents claimed. An UBS Swiss bank report, published in late 2023, showed that byd alone was able to build cars 25% cheaper than Western competitors.
Chinese companies deny that the terms of competition are uneven. Xpeng Vice President Brian Gu told the BBC at the Paris Motor Show in 2024 that his company is competitive “because we have fought with nails and teeth in the world’s most competitive market.”
“Unsurprised protectionism” by the US?
The concerns that Chinese imports of electric vehicles could flood international markets against established manufacturers have reached their climax in 2024.
In the US, the “alliance for American construction” warned that they could prove ‘An event of the disappearance of species’ For the US industry, while European Commission President Ursula von der Laien said that “huge state subsidies” for Chinese companies are distorting the European market.
The Biden government has taken drastic measures, increasing import duties in Chinese construction electric vehicles from 25% to 100%, making it virtually impossible to sell to the US.
The decision was condemned by Beijing as ‘overt protectionism’
But also the EU in October 2024, imposed additional duties up to 35.3% In Chinese construction electric vehicles. The United Kingdom did not take any measure.
Matthias Smind, founder of Schmidt Automotive Research, noted that EU duties have now made it difficult for Chinese companies to gain market share.
“The door was wide open in 2024 … but the Chinese did not seize their opportunity. With duties in force, Chinese manufacturers are no longer able to promote their cost advantage to European consumers. “
Security concerns, spyware and hacking
But no matter how desirable Chinese cars are compared to their European competitors, some experts believe that we must be cautious about them – for security reasons.
Most modern vehicles are somehow connected to the internet – for satellite navigation reasons, for example – and driver phones are often connected to car systems. Network updates, led by Tesla, can upgrade a car’s software from a distance.
All of this has led to concerns, in some circles, that cars could be tired and used to accommodate spyware, watch people or even stop touching a keyboard.
Earlier this year, a British newspaper reported that the army and intelligence services had been ordered not to discuss official cases while driving electric vehicles. It was also argued that cars with Chinese components had been banned by sensitive military installations.
Beijing has always denied all charges of espionage.
A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in London said recent allegations are “completely unfounded and irrational”.
“Chinese automakers exist in this extremely competitive market. While being obliged in Chinese legislation and this may require compliance with national security services, none of them wants to harm its ability to develop and have international exports considered as a risk to security. “ It is still emphasized in the BBC.
“To date, there is no reliable evidence to support the claim that Chinese electric vehicles are a threat to the security of the United Kingdom or any other country.”
In addition, electric cars powered by Chinese technology, there is no doubt that they came to stay.
“Even if you have a car manufactured in Germany or elsewhere, it probably contains several Chinese components,” said Dan Sizar.
“The reality is that most of us have smartphones and things from China, from the US, Korea, without really thinking about it. So I believe there is some terrorism about what the Chinese are capable of doing.
“I think we should deal with the reality that China will be much of the future. “
Source: Skai
I have worked as a journalist for over 10 years, and my work has been featured on many different news websites. I am also an author, and my work has been published in several books. I specialize in opinion writing, and I often write about current events and controversial topics. I am a very well-rounded writer, and I have a lot of experience in different areas of journalism. I am a very hard worker, and I am always willing to put in the extra effort to get the job done.
