Chinese firms fueling future success at Essen Motor Show

Europe's largest and most important motor show for tuning, performance racing and classic cars has taken place in the West German city of Essen with roughly 500 exhibitors from 23 countries.

At the Essen Motor Show, nine halls have been filled with all the accessories needed to modify high volume model cars, niche vehicles, sports cars, e-cars and classic cars with modern components and performance upgrades.

With over 200,000 visitors in 2024, the show is a great place to see and be seen.

That's the hope for ten Chinese companies presenting their products here, including KPC from Hunan Province.

KPC's carbon ceramic brake systems for high performance vehicles are already in use in Xiamo SU7 Ultra and BYD Yangwang vehicles, but the company is hoping to meet new European partners.

"It's our first motor show in Germany", sales agent Yee Man Sung tells CGTN. "We are very confident about our product and want to introduce it to the European market because we have heard about how costly the brakes systems are here."

KPC hopes its high quality and good price point will win over some new customers.

"Our products are very competitive and we apply a very attractive price, which is one third of the price in Germany".

The number of Chinese companies exhibiting in Essen underscores the country's growing influence in all areas of the global automotive landscape.

With global tariffs making international trade more expensive and less predictable, many European manufacturers and suppliers are actively seeking alternative partners to stabilize costs and secure supply chains.

Price point, advanced technology and comfort are all key factors during these challenging economic times.

Andreas Allebrod, managing director of the German e-car sharing company eShare.one, says he's constantly increasing the number of Chinese cars in his fleet.

"Chinese cars are getting better every year," he tells CGTN from the floor of the Essen Motor Show. "The Germans only seem to focus on purely automotive matters, but when you look at Chinese vehicles, it's about entertainment, it's about well-being, it's about fun."

Allebrod adds: "I believe that nowadays nobody pays double or even triple the price for a BMW or Mercedes when they can get a Chinese car for significantly less".

In the first half of 2025, Chinese EVs nearly doubled their combined share of the European market to 5.1 percent despite EU tariffs on their import.

And with a few modified electric vehicles on the floor of the Essen motor show, many here are happy to see that it's not only combustion engines that can be tuned.

The Essen Motor Show continues until December 7. Then all eyes will turn to China's Automotive Modification Culture and Industry Expo, the GT Show which takes place in Suzhou, March 27 to 29, 2026.