European Carmakers On China Charm Offensive As Sales Droop

Volkswagen, the largest foreign automaker operating in China, announced that by 2027 it would release more than 20 new cars for the local market (Credit: AFP)

Once blithely dominant in China, European automakers are now launching full-fledged charm offensives at consumers in the world's largest car market, seeking to claw back sales lost to domestic rivals.

At this week's Auto Shanghai, the largest global industry show of its kind, foreign firms -- in particular legacy German ones -- pitched dozens of electric, high-tech models made "in China for China".