Chinese carmakers are turning heads in Paris, but shiny new models can only get you so far. The real test now is converting this showroom glamor into sales.

Li Auto is preparing for its European debut, while XPeng is aiming to bring its autonomous driving technology to the region. Both companies are moving ahead with their plans, despite a new EU-China agreement that curbs the import of Chinese hybrid cars.

According to a European Commission official, the deal sets an annual cap of 350,000 vehicles. It follows EU tariffs on Chinese-made fully electric cars, introduced back in 2024.

Li Auto may start with the Netherlands and Norway, said the company's head of International Business tells CGTN. 

"Definitely, we will bring the current products to more countries step by step," Nestor Wu told CGTN. "Once we have our sales and service networks ready."

That network is quickly taking shape. Li Auto already has a spare parts center in the Netherlands, ahead of even selling a vehicle in Europe.

Wu says the idea behind this is to have a spare parts system fully established before the first cars go on sale, giving customers easy access to repairs and support when they need it.

XPeng is also preparing for its next step in Europe. It wants to launch its autonomous driving system here, and says the technology is ready. All it needs now is regulatory approval.

"We're ready. We have this technology already in China and globally. Our capacity is ready, the car is ready," says Alex Tang, Xpeng's head of International Development and Services. 

Tang went on to say that he hopes the system can be introduced early next year, if approval comes through.

Both companies, though, have plenty of work to do before those plans become reality. Li Auto needs its sales and service network in place, while XPeng's timing all comes down to regulators.

The new hybrid agreement is now adding another challenge, but despite that, both companies are pushing forward with their European ambitions. In Paris, while they've certainly captured people's attention, winning their business will take much more than a slick and shiny car.