 Imports from China
There's so much talk about the 'Chinese threat' of flooding the market with electric cars. But here we want to focus on the other side of the issue, namely, how European manufacturers are responding to this.
That is perhaps even more important.
Stellantis is one of them. It already acquired 'Leapmotor' some time ago. Following delivery difficulties from the Tychy plant in Poland, shipments are now coming from the Stellantis plant in Figueruelas,
Spain, where the Opel Corsa, Peugeot 208, and Lancia Ypsilon are also manufactured.
So, this would be a partnership that both sides clearly want, and one from which there is still much to be expected. But let's now take a look at one that doesn't seem to be intended, namely, not for the
European market.
The video above already reveals it. One of the two founders of Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg has actually managed to bring a car, originally intended exclusively for the Chinese market, to Germany, and has
even been granted permission to drive it here.
ChatGPT cites the importer Auto China, as reported by t-online on October 22, 2026:
| Position | Net price |
| AUDI E5 Sportback | 59.980 € |
| Charger Adapter | 950 € |
| EU Road Approval | 1.500 € |
| Two-Year Warranty | 3.500 € |
| Delivery | 2.800 € |
| Final price, including 19% VAT | 81.789 € |
Would you have thought that, even though the additional costs seem high, homologation for Germany is an option that a private individual can afford? And it's so affordable, too. How close does this car actually
come to meeting German regulations?
No, speculation is out of the question, but at least Audi hasn't banned the German company from importing and selling its products, only from using the brand emblems and a slogan. Presumably, the car will turn
up again at some point without these additional specifications.
After all, it also comes with a two-year warranty, regardless of how much the replacement parts cost. The insurance company is also unlikely to be lenient with Braun regarding premiums. And that infotainment in
Chinese is certainly not for everyone.
But he's thoroughly enjoying what's on offer, including the incredible speed on the display. I'm sure other potential buyers are also itching to give something like this a try. But that's not what we're here to discuss.
However, two recent developments have given us cause for concern. For example, the fact that China now dominates almost the entire automobile market in Russia after all other players have withdrawn from
there. But there war is still raging there.
Meanwhile, the electric trucker, who is traveling around the world with 80 charging stations, is currently at the border to Georgia. What's interesting is that this will be the first time he can test a shipment there
according to the Chinese GB/T standard.
What does this mean for our topic? The spread of Chinese cars has reached the EU's border. So it's no longer just the maritime route, which may be disrupted at the moment, or the New Silk Road by rail.
Someone living in eastern Turkey would only have to drive across the border to buy an Audi like that there and would have saved quite a bit from the list. At some point, there would be general road approval there,
and by then at the latest, Audi itself would hardly be selling any cars there.
How might this affect the EU at some point?
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