What if the next Car of the Year was Chinese?

Of the 45 models competing for the 2023 Car of the Year title, 10 are Chinese.

Since 1964, a handful of European automotive journalists have annually designated the one that will be “Car of the Year.” To date, this prestigious title has never been awarded to a Chinese model, but the situation could change quickly.

Indeed, 10 Chinese vehicles are on the list of 45 new models competing this year. All are – or will be – sold in Europe, in accordance with current regulations, but some are not currently sold in France. Others have been presented but not yet officially launched. This is the case of the Ora Cat and the MG 4, which are planned for the French market.

All Electric Vehicles

The Chinese vehicles on the list are all electric. This clearly reflects the strategy of the Middle Kingdom’s automotive industry, which has largely abandoned internal combustion engines in Europe, with only rare exceptions.

One might also consider that there are not 10 but 11 Chinese cars among the candidates by including the Smart #1. This vehicle has a somewhat unusual profile: it is officially sold by a European brand, but the brand is now owned by the Chinese group Geely, which supplies a significant portion of its technology.

Other Exotic Cars

The list of 45 candidates also includes two Vietnamese models: the Vinfast VF8 and VF9. Also note the presence of the Lucid Air, an American-made vehicle financed by Saudi capital. Like the Chinese models, these other exotic vehicles are electric.

Chinese Models in the Running:

1. BAIC EU5
2. BYD Tang
3. DFSK Seres 5
4. Hongqi E-HS9
5. MG 4
6. MG 5
7. Nio ES8
8. Nio ET7
9. Ora Cat
10. Xpeng P5

List of other pre-selected models:

1. Alfa Romeo Tonale 
2. BMW X1/iX1 
3. BMW i7 
4. Citroën C5 X 
5. Dacia Jogger 
6. Ferrari 296 GTB 
7. Ferrari Purosangue
8. Honda Civic 
9. Jeep Avenger 
10. Jeep Grand Cherokee 
11. Kia Niro 
12. Kia Sportage 
13. Land Rover Range Rover/ Land Rover Range Rover Sport 
14. Lexus RZ 
15. Lotus Emira 
16. Lucid Air 
17. Maserati Grecale 
18. Mazda CX-60 
19. McLaren Artura 
20. Mercedes-Benz GLC 
21. Mercedes-EQ EQE 
22. Mercedes-AMG SL 
23. Nissan Ariya 
24. Nissan X-Trail 
25. Opel/Vauxhall Astra 
26. Peugeot 408 
27. Renault Austral 
28. Smart #1 
29. Subaru Solterra/Toyota bZ4X 
30. Toyota Aygo X 
31. Toyota Corolla Cross 
32. Toyota GR86 
33. Vinfast VF8 
34. Vinfast VF9 
35. Volkswagen ID. Buzz

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