Preview of the Munich Auto Show 2025: Chinese Teams Go Global, and BBA Enters a "New" Era

Another year of the Munich International Auto Show is approaching, and the players ready to take the stage are undoubtedly gearing up.

Just one week before the auto show, European local automakers BMW and Mercedes-Benz couldn't wait any longer and pre - exposed new cars such as the BMW iX3 and the Mercedes - Benz GLC EV. Volkswagen seems much more composed. Rumor has it that the so - called ID.2 will be named ID.Polo and make its debut at this Munich Auto Show.

While major European and American manufacturers are using new energy concept cars to mark their transformation, Chinese automakers have decided to enter Europe as a group, and Munich is their "Normandy".

According to GeekPark, automakers such as Leapmotor, XPeng, and Changan will bring new products to this year's auto show. Meanwhile, Chinese suppliers like Momenta, Horizon Robotics, and CATL are also banding together to give their European counterparts a taste of "Tier 1.5" shock.

Before the famous Oktoberfest in southern Germany arrives, local benchmarks and Asian visitors are destined to "blow people's minds" around the world first.

Seize the opportunity while Musk is in trouble and aim for Tesla's downfall!

Although Tesla's board of directors will grant its leader Elon Musk stocks worth $1 trillion as compensation in the coming years, in the European market, Tesla, which used to be far ahead, is seeing its sales in various European countries decline by double - digit percentages, and there seems to be no end in sight.

In contrast, Chinese automakers have seized this opportunity and are ready to launch a strong offensive in the world's third - largest auto market.

This time, it's confirmed that Chinese automakers such as Leapmotor, XPeng, and Changan Group will let European car enthusiasts see the strength of automakers from the East at this Munich Auto Show.

Leapmotor's stylish small car Lafa 5 will make its debut at the Munich Auto Show | Image source: Leapmotor

Three days before the auto show, Leapmotor confirmed that it will expose its mysterious new car Lafa 5 at the Munich Auto Show. From the currently exposed posters, the streamlined body and green color scheme of the Lafa 5 follow a sporty and fashionable style, showing a side of Leapmotor that is not commonly seen.

As one of the leading new - energy vehicle startups in China, Leapmotor's overseas sales from January to July this year have reached nearly 25,000 units, with Europe being its core market. Leapmotor CEO Zhu Jiangming once revealed that Leapmotor's goal for overseas sales this year is 50,000 - 80,000 units. The cooperation with the European large - scale group Stellantis obviously provides convenience and advantages for Leapmotor in terms of sales and after - sales in the European market.

The brand - new XPeng P7's design can undoubtedly compete with European counterparts | Image source: XPeng

Although XPeng hasn't revealed which models it will expose at the Munich Auto Show, the high - value design of the brand - new XPeng P7 may become a major highlight of this auto show. Before this, the XPeng G6, G9, and the previous - generation P7 have already been on sale in European countries such as Poland and Switzerland. It is believed that this auto show will help XPeng gain many fans in Germany.

Besides the amazing complete - vehicle products of Chinese new - energy vehicle startups, the "Chinese Tier 1" suppliers that have emerged with the new - energy vehicle ecosystem will also make a collective appearance at the Munich Auto Show.

According to reports, Horizon Robotics will make its debut at the Munich Auto Show with its dual product brands HSD & Journey. Visitors to the booth will also see the first appearance of the models resulting from the team's overseas cooperation. At that time, Dr. Yu Kai, the founder and CEO of Horizon Robotics, will also be on - site to explain in detail how the company helps Chinese brands go global and the progress of its cooperation with top global Tier 1 suppliers.

On the other hand, in addition to participating in the exhibition, Momenta has also arranged test - drive cars in Munich, allowing people to personally experience the magic of Chinese autonomous driving technology.

Concepts and stunts from the "savvy Europeans"

At their home - ground auto show, European automakers, acting as the local powerhouses, immediately shed their serious and reserved disguises and start to come up with all sorts of stunts.

Two weeks before the auto show, news about Audi's new - generation "TT Concept Coupe" has spread like wildfire, and static exterior shooting videos by car reviewers have also appeared on the Internet.

The "Mandalorian" front - end design of Audi's new concept sports car is truly too sci - fi | Image source: Audi

In terms of appearance, this unnamed two - seat coupe combines the Bauhaus design styles of the TT and R8 in a highly sci - fi way, and the silver color scheme gives it a sense of the future. Since the front part completely abandons Audi's traditional hexagonal air intake grille and replaces it with a "Mandalorian" helmet - like design, it has received a lot of criticism. But overall, this hard - top convertible coupe is a true example of European design. If it can be mass - produced, it will surely become a classic model.

BMW couldn't wait to expose the new BMW iX3 | Image source: BMW Group

On the other hand, two models based on the Neue Klasse platform from the BMW Group, the BMW iX3 and the BMW i3, which people have been looking forward to for years, will be exposed at the auto show. In fact, one week before the auto show, BMW has already presented the iX3 to the public. The reduced kidney grille, wider headlights on both sides, and the muscular lines all over the body give this car a combative look. The irregular prism display and the "Skyline Instrument Screen" inside the car also complement the exterior design.

As "the most forward - looking strategic project in the history of the BMW Group", the new iX3 and i3 are expected to redeem the embarrassing situation of the previous generation of gasoline - to - electric converted products that had to offer "heavily discounted prices" to boost sales in China.

The interior of the new Mercedes - Benz GLC EV is so radical that even new - energy startups have to take notice | Image source: Mercedes - Benz Group

Before the auto show, Mercedes - Benz revealed the interior of its new all - electric Mercedes - Benz GLC EV. Surprisingly, the center console screen of the Mercedes - Benz GLC EV is a super - large screen with a size of 39.1 inches. This screen, called the "Hyperscreen", is likely to be the first thing everyone sees when getting into the car. The "cannon - shaped" air vents on both sides of the screen are both retro and cyber - themed. It can only be said that once traditional automakers put in the effort, they can be even more radical than new - energy startups.

As a new electric model from Mercedes - Benz, the new Mercedes - Benz GLC EV will undoubtedly be localized in China to compete with domestic new - energy startups in terms of screen technology.

The "hot - hatch" ID.Polo is reborn in the electric era | Image source: Volkswagen Group

In China, the "hot - hatch" Polo has become history and only exists in the memories of enthusiasts. Now, Volkswagen will revive people's memories this year. The ID.Polo will make its debut at this year's auto show. In fact, the ID.Polo is what people used to call the ID.2. However, in the future, Volkswagen will abandon the previous "ID + number" naming convention, and Polo, Golf, and Passat will replace the numbers in turn and be "reborn" in the form of new - energy vehicles.

For hot - hatch enthusiasts, another piece of good news is that the ID.Polo will also have a GTI version, and this is also the first time the GTI logo has been revived on a Volkswagen electric vehicle.

While Chinese automakers are devoting a quarter of their efforts to the European market, the local brands in this world's third - largest auto market have also presented the new results of their years - long transformation to compete with their Asian counterparts.

As for the final result, a writer from GeekPark will be at the Munich Auto Show to bring you first - hand information!

This article is from the WeChat official account "GeekPark" (ID: geekpark). Author: Jing Yu. Republished by 36Kr with permission.