Two years ago, Chinese carmakers had their own hall at the Paris Motor Show. This year they were everywhere.

In this episode of Automotive Storytelling, Stéphane Lagresle walks the Paris Motor Show 2026 with Marc Amblard, Founder and Managing Director of Orsay Consulting, to read what the stands reveal about the car industry in Europe.

KEY INSIGHTS

Chinese Brands Have Left the Separate Hall
Chinese brands now stand beside Mercedes, Volvo and Renault, often several per group. Marc expects consolidation and sees local production, from XPeng models assembled by Magna in Austria to BYD in Hungary, as the price of staying.

Heritage and Partnerships Buy Europe Time
The Renault 5 and Citroën's 2CV revival trade on memories today's new-car buyers share. Marc reads nostalgia as time to catch up on technology, while the Stellantis tie-up with Leapmotor brings Chinese cost levels inside the group.

Tariff Design Shapes the Powertrain Mix
EU duties of up to about 45% apply to battery electric cars from China, while hybrids pay the standard 10%. Marc explains why Chinese groups such as Chery now lead with hybrids, and why range extenders may only be a bridge.

Physical AI Moves Liability to the Company
A Cybercab with no steering wheel or pedals puts liability on its operator, where Level 2 leaves it with the driver. Marc explains how Waymo's remote operators pick between options instead of driving, and why cameras alone struggle in fog.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Model trade rules into every powertrain roadmap. A tariff aimed at one technology can redirect a whole product mix, as Chinese hybrids in Europe now show.
• Treat Chinese entrants as rivals and partners at once. Stellantis keeps Leapmotor close to gain technology, cost and volume while protecting its own brands.
• Spend the time heritage buys on technology. Nostalgia brings buyers back to the showroom, and the window it opens will not stay open forever.
• Separate Level 2 and Level 4 in every conversation. The difference decides who carries liability, which shapes product, insurance and regulatory strategy.

ABOUT MARC AMBLARD
Marc Amblard is Founder and Managing Director of Orsay Consulting, advising OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers and startups on electrification, autonomous driving, AI and new mobility. After nearly ten years in Silicon Valley, he is now based in France. His career spans Renault-Nissan, Valeo, PSA and Alstom, and he is the author of Mobility Revolution (2026).

Next time you walk a motor show, look at who is standing next to whom.

#AutomotiveStorytelling #ParisMotorShow #ChineseCarmakers #PhysicalAI

"Under the Hood: Automotive Storytelling" uncovers the human narratives driving innovation in an industry that impacts lives worldwide. Hosted by Stéphane Lagresle, this podcast explores how the power of storytelling ultimately connects technology to humans.