Familiar brands from China: what's interesting in local versions

BMW and Volkswagen produce cars for the Chinese market, so this direction is also interesting for those who prefer familiar world brands. The local version may differ from the usual car in terms of interior design, equipment and engine type.

Such differences sometimes give a good reason to look at the model anew. The elongated sedan is interesting for the space for rear passengers, and the electric crossover is interesting for a different order of everyday travel and charging.

BMW 5 Series: More attention to the back row

The BMW 5 Series of the G68 generation is produced at BMW Brilliance in Shenyang for the Chinese market. This version has an extended wheelbase and additional space for rear passengers. This feature is important if a family often rides in the back or you need to comfortably accommodate adult passengers in the car.

Different years, engines and configurations remain behind one model name. The interior space can be evaluated when choosing a version, and the necessary seats, climate, acoustics and other options are for a particular car.

Volkswagen ID.4 CROZZ: a familiar brand with an electric drive

The ID.4 CROZZ is a Chinese version of the Volkswagen ID.4 electric crossover. It shows that interest in the Chinese market does not necessarily require the choice of an unfamiliar brand: there are also electric cars from global manufacturers.

With such a choice, it is useful to understand in advance where the car will be charged every day and on normal long-distance routes. The battery version, charging connector, familiar multimedia functions and equipment for winter are discussed together with the individual car. A large screen alone does not replace these conveniences.

What changes with the market

The local version may have different bodywork, engine, gearbox, and equipment. BMW’s elongated base is a notable example of this difference; in other cases, it manifests itself in the trim levels and the list of options. The capabilities of multimedia and digital services should also be understood before buying.

A short list of the necessary equipment helps to compare cars on the case: whether the seat in the back is important, what heating is needed, how the phone is connected and what functions you would like to keep. In the instructions for the configurations of the Chinese market , you can see how to clarify these things for the selected version.

For your own order, you can go to the car section from China and formulate a request for GTYRES: car class, budget, mandatory options and city of receipt.