Chinese electric vehicles favored among Israeli consumers

With outstanding performance and reasonable price, Chinese electric vehicles (EV) have been favored among Israeli consumers since these brands entered Israeli auto market.

Israeli energy authority's plan has presented great opportunities for Chinese electric carmakers, which prevents gasoline- and diesel-powered cars by 2030 and only allows electric or natural gas-powered car imports.

Against such background, many Chinese EV brands flourished in Israeli market in recent years. Geely is one of them. The Geely Geomertry C EV was snapped up by local consumers once it was introduced in the Israeli market. In the first half of this year, the passenger car took a market share of 22 percent, awarded "Best Buy of the Year" category for 2022 nominated by Israel's major car magazine Auto.

"The Geely Geomertry C EV can enable people to traverse the country thanks to its driving range of 460 km on a single charge," said a local newspaper.

People visit a car company selling electric cars made by China's Geely Auto in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Nov. 10, 2021. Chinese automaker Geely Auto Group has started selling electric cars in Israel through the Israeli dealership Union Group. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

Apart from Geely, there are about 10 Chinese automakers is selling or going to sell EVs in Israel, according to an Israeli financial media.

Chinese luxury auto brand Hongqi also expanded its global presence in Israel, with its Hongqi E-HS9 EV started to sell in the country in April and its first showroom opened in the central Israeli city of Tel Aviv in June.

A man views China's Hongqi E-HS9 smart electric SUV in Tel Aviv, Israel, on April 14, 2022. Chinese automaker FAW Car has started selling Hongqi electric luxury cars in Israel, the Israeli car import dealership Samelet Group said Wednesday. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

Tomer Hadar, an automotive editor for Calcalist, Israel's largest financial newspaper, told Xinhua that the Israeli government hopes to raise the share of EV in car market to 50 percent from the current 3 percent.

"Chinese EV brands have won a large market and gained a foothold in Israel," said Hadar, adding that in the coming two to three years, there will be more Chinese brands entering in the Israeli auto market.