The automotive manufacturer Dongfeng, one of the largest automotive groups in China, announced that it intends to triple sales in Europe to 80,000 units by 2026, and that to achieve this, it will focus on models with internal combustion engines, hybrids, as well as range-extended vehicles and new fully electric models.
It should be noted that the brand recently entered the European market, focusing on 100% electric models; however, the CEO of Dongfeng Europe, Xie Qian, stated during a presentation in Turin, Italy, that the group’s goal for next year is to sell 80,000 vehicles, compared to the 25,000-30,000 expected for this year.
To this end, it will rely on a lineup of more than 10 models, ranging from city vehicles to large SUVs and pick-ups, covering three brands: Dongfeng, Voyah in the premium segment, and M-Hero for off-road vehicles.
“We are betting on 100% electric models in the long term, for sure. But, in the medium term, I believe there is room for plug-in hybrid and hybrid models”, said Xie, adding, however, that internal combustion vehicles are still very popular in some European countries, such as Italy or Poland. “Europe is a large and diverse market. We tend to be flexible”.
The European expansion of Dongfeng is based on a network of 170 dealerships, which the brand intends to increase to 280 by the end of this year, focusing on most European countries, but with an initial focus on Italy, Poland, Germany, and France.
“In 2026, we will focus our efforts on improving customer satisfaction, enhancing the quality of our dealer network, our points of sale, and also after-sales service”, said Xie Qian.
In addition to the growth of the dealer network, Dongfeng is considering the establishment of an assembly plant for its vehicles in Europe in the future, which may happen after consistent sales growth.
