EV Market Turns into a "Red Ocean" as Competition Heats Up... 22 Million Won, 9-Minute Charging, Robotaxis
Paris Motor Show opened in France on the 12th
Competition intensifies over development speed and costs, beyond price and technology
Automakers are competing on price and technology at the Paris Motor Show. A 22 million won electric car, an SUV that charges in nine minutes, and a steering-wheel-free robotaxi are among the vehicles on display.
According to Reuters and other news outlets on the 13th, automakers have unveiled survival strategies that include changing their manufacturing methods to cut new-car development times and production costs.
Citroen, part of Stellantis, unveiled an all-electric concept car that reimagines the 2CV, the small French "people's car" first introduced in 1948, for the modern era. Round headlights, a curving body and checkered seats give it a retro look. It is priced at about 15,000 euros (approximately 22 million won).
Stellantis has also changed its development approach. In Italy, it jointly developed a small electric-vehicle platform with Chinese automaker Leapmotor. The company plans to use the platform to produce new vehicles starting in 2028. Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Ned Curic said Stellantis is learning from the rapid development methods of Chinese automakers and building the capability to develop new vehicles in just two years.
Renault unveiled the E-Space Concept, a six-seat electric multipurpose vehicle (MPV) with second-row seats that can rotate 180 degrees. It features Level 2++ driver-assistance technology and is scheduled to go into production at the Busan plant starting in 2028.
Volkswagen Group unveiled four small electric vehicles: the ID. Polo, ID. Cross, CUPRA Raval and Skoda Epiq. Although they have different brands and designs, they share 80% of their parts and technology. The strategy is to lower development, procurement and production costs through a shared platform while retaining each brand's distinctive character.
China's BYD unveiled the large electric SUV Atto 8, highlighting its ultra-fast charging technology. The company says that with a dedicated ultra-high-power charging system, it takes nine minutes to charge the battery from 10% to 97%. The technology is an attempt to bring EV charging times, a key weakness of electric vehicles, closer to the time it takes to refuel a gasoline-powered car.
Tesla displayed the Cybercab, a two-seat robotaxi with no steering wheel or accelerator and brake pedals. The company's vision is to transform the automobile from a means of transportation driven by people into an unmanned transportation service.
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Hyundai Motor unveiled the new small SUV BAYON for the first time globally and introduced a new Tucson equipped with its Gleo AI voice assistant. The company is also targeting the robotaxi market by combining the IONIQ 5 with Waymo's autonomous driving system. It is also considering expanding its partnership with Waymo beyond the United States, where it currently works with Tesla. Kia expanded its electrified lineup in Europe by introducing the Seltos and K4 hybrids.
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