BMW EV China sales; not good

[JeffKeryk]

Here's the latest GCBC article on BMW's foray into the electric car market. IMO, car companies that stuffed a battery and motor into an existing platform (as in BMW CLAR) mis-underestimated the task. The Big Boys messed up.

Get the Neue Klasse to market!

 

[97prizm]

Tesla isn't exactly setting the world on fire in China either. They're down sales significantly in China since 2023. Keep in mind they also have the newer three-row model y available as well.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

You don't suppose this problem would have had anything to do with the import duties?

 

[CKN]

There are many car makers in this space (EV) in China. And their domestics brands have a good reputation for the most part.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Is there a Chinese knock off? Honest question - I know there was a knock off of the X5 - The Shuanghuan SCEO. It was on a Top Gear or Grand Tour episode once.

What is the overall China market looking like. China is in the midst of a deflationary bust. They don't want to admit it but they are. Too few people, too few young people that consume things, too few babies that need bigger houses, braces and college. Same as here only worse.

 

[slo town]

China is in the midst of a deflationary bust.

I’ve read about that.

Scott

 

[JeffKeryk]

Tesla isn't exactly setting the world on fire in China either. They're down sales significantly in China since 2023. Keep in mind they also have the newer three-row model y available as well.

Tesla China sales have struggled in 2026. The China market is down overall. But May is seeing a rebound. The difference is, BMW has pulled out.
Tesla China May sales rebound.

The YL has been seen running around the Fremont test track. Perhaps we will see it for sale here in the US soon? Tesla needs it and I believe the market is overdue for a real 3 row EV. The current Model Y 3 row is a joke.

 

[JeffKeryk]

There are many car makers in this space (EV) in China. And their domestics brands have a good reputation for the most part.

BYD is the big dog, and they offer far more vehicle types for entry level purchases up. They are a powerhouse, for sure.

 

[JHZR2]

German automakers selling in China is an interesting thing. Be it EV or just standard ICE.

I would t trust the market or the tech transfer risk there if I was a maker. As I understand it their vehicles are different when sold there.

Battery tech, risk or none from a safety perspective, is handled pretty well by the major Chinese companies. Their domestic manufacturing surely has competition advantages.

But here in the USA we sure love our dumped Chinese goods.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

China levies a prohibitive 125% import duty on US-made vehicles, including the Tesla Model S and Model X. Because this 125% retaliatory rate makes exporting US models prohibitively expensive, Tesla halted new orders for these vehicles in China, limiting availability to existing inventory. [1, 2]

 

[CKN]

BYD is the big dog, and they offer far more vehicle types for entry level purchases up. They are a powerhouse, for sure.

Yes-they are!

 

[Snagglefoot]

I’ve read about that.

Scott

Japan set the pace on that many years ago.

 

[dubber09]

They have tons and tons of EVs and much cheaper ones. Land in Beijing and come outside, taxis are mostly EVs Corolla size. Common man buys what they can afford and Tesla isn't one of them, neither is BMW, then maintenance and repairs costs... Take Japan too, they also prefer domestic cars and very big on Toyota. India, most Toyota, Honda, Suzuki cars are made in India, the ones that are imported world be almost twice the price due to taxation system. I went to a Mahindra dealer there just to see what they are like, saw some sort of new SUV, went under the hood, under the car, it looked well built and not really differently from other imports, interior was nice too.

Then there is this