Chinese automakers make tech — led pitch for Europe's premium car market

Chinese automakers target Europe's lucrative premium segment Brands showcase 'intelligent luxury' at Paris car show Carmakers seek higher-margin growth amid slowdown at home By Nick Carey and Christina Amann PARIS, Oct 16 (Reuters) — China's automakers are betting European drivers will embrace a new form of premium motoring centred on technology rather than heritage, with brands such as Changan's Avatr and BYD's Denza pitching what they call "intelligent luxury". Having rapidly gained share in Europe's mainstream car market with affordable models and the latest tech, Chinese carmakers now have their sights on a bigger prize: the continent's highly lucrative premium segment. At this week's Paris car show, Chinese brands showcased premium vehicles packed with advanced driver-assistance systems, rapid charging and comfort features, hoping to persuade buyers to choose unfamiliar Chinese badges over established luxury names. But winning over Europe's premium buyers is likely to take time. "You need to be in this market long enough to build up your presence and credibility," said Zheng Yeqing, a vice president at Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng, which launched in Europe in 2020 and