Five cars you didn’t realise have ties to China, including models from Mercedes and Tesla
Car changing is a big deal
Chinese cars may seem like a new and exciting addition to UK roads, but you may not know that the well-known brands you’ve been seeing for years also use Chinese parts, or even have cars built entirely in China. Here are five examples.
The explosion of new Chinese brands landing in the UK is well documented. There are now more than 20 of them selling cars here, and while the idea of buying a Chinese car may seem like a bit of a novelty to some, your car may have closer ties to China than you think.
I’m not talking about brands like Volvo, Smart and MG, which are either wholly or partially owned by Chinese companies. I mean there are new Mercedes models which use engines built in China, and some electric cars are built there before being shipped to the UK. Owning a Chinese car is actually nothing new in the UK.
Here are five examples of cars which you may not realise have links to China.
Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.
- New Mercedes CLA hybrid
- Tesla Model 3
- Mini Cooper Electric
- Cupra Tavascan
- Dacia Spring
1. New Mercedes CLA hybrid
Mercedes is no stranger to outsourcing its engines. For years, the A-Class, CLA and B-Class used engines from Renault in their lower trim levels, but it developed its own 1.5-litre petrol four-cylinder for the new CLA hybrid.
It may have designed the engine itself, but the task of building it has been handed to Geely. Specifically, Mercedes is working with Aurobay, a subsidiary of HORSE Powertrain which is owned 50-50 by Geely and Renault, to make this new engine in Zhangjiakou, China.
2. Tesla Model 3
Tesla has multiple Gigafactories around the world, but if you buy a new Model 3 in the UK, or a used one from 2019 onwards, then it’ll come from its Shanghai facility. The Model 3 is comfy, fun to drive and has an impressive 466 miles of range, making it one of the best electric cars you can buy today.
3. Mini Cooper Electric
The Mini is as British as sharing a pot of tea and a scone with a beefeater, right? Well the design may hark back to the classic model built in the midlands, and the petrol model is built in Oxford, but the Mini Cooper Electric is built in Zhangjiagang, China.
It’s a partnership between BMW and Great Wall Motors, which did sell the Ora 03 electric car in the UK until dwindling sales recently killed it off. You’d never guess that the two were loosely related, because the Mini is great fun to drive and cute-looking, whereas the Ora 03 is neither of those things.
4. Cupra Tavascan
The Cupra Tavascan is closely-related to the Skoda Enyaq and Volkswagen ID4, yet while those cars are built in Europe, the Cupra is made in Hefei, China. Why is that? I have a theory.
This is the Volkswagen ID Unyx, and you may be thinking that it looks suspiciously like the Tavascan. That’s because it’s essentially a Tavascan rebadged for the Chinese market where Cupra doesn’t sell cars. It would make sense then for the two cars to come out of the same factory.
5. Dacia Spring
The Dacia Spring is the UK’s cheapest electric car, coming in at just £11,990. While Dacia’s other cars are built in Romania or Morocco, the Spring is made in Wuhan, China as part of a partnership with a company called Dongfeng.
It won’t be for long though. Tariffs on cars imported from China are getting steep, which makes it hard for the Spring to retain its low price tag. Its successor, based on the Renault Twingo, will therefore be built in Europe.
Car change? Carwow!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.
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